Ultracapacitors for Automotive Recuperation System for Fuel-Efficient, Low-Emission CV’s

Maxwell Technologies, Inc., has been selected to supply ultracapacitors to Flextronics Automotive, a segment of Flextronics and a leading global automotive supplier, for the energy storage module of a recuperation system that Flextronics Automotive will produce to reduce fuel consumption and emissions in commercial vehicles.

Each energy storage module incorporates 16 3,000-farad ultracapacitor cells to:

— store energy generated by a recuperative braking system,
— deliver stored electrical energy to power air conditioning, heating,
lighting and other passenger comfort and safety features, and
— provide a reservoir of standby energy to stabilize the vehicle’s
electrical system.

Flextronics Automotive designed the recuperation system to enable European commercial vehicle manufacturers to meet the European Union’s stringent Euro 6 emission standards, which mandate significant reduction of nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, particulate matter and other pollutants produced by diesel engines, beginning in 2014. Flextronics Automotive has won a contract to produce recuperation systems for a major European commercial vehicle manufacturer that is planning to commence production of a new, low emission, vehicle model.

“Ultracapacitors charge and discharge very rapidly, which makes them very efficient for capturing regenerative braking energy and storing it for use in the electrical system,” said Herbert Schoeffmann, President of Flextronics Automotive. “Using that stored energy to power lights, heating, cooling and other vehicle loads reduces the need to use the generator, which saves fuel and reduces emissions.”

David Schramm, Maxwell’s president and chief executive officer, said, “As this supply agreement demonstrates, Ultracapacitors’ high efficiency, all temperature performance and long operational life make them a preferred energy storage solution for hybrid buses and other heavy, commercial and passenger vehicles.”

Unlike batteries, which produce and store energy by means of a chemical reaction, ultracapacitors store energy in an electric field. This electrostatic energy storage mechanism enables ultracapacitors to charge and discharge in as little as fractions of a second, perform normally over a broad temperature range (-40 to +65C), operate reliably through one million or more charge/discharge cycles and resist shock and vibration. Maxwell offers ultracapacitor cells ranging in capacitance from one to 3,000 farads and multi-cell modules ranging from 16 to 125 volts. For more information on Maxwell’s ultracapacitor products please visit our web site, www.Maxwell.com.

Maxwell is a leading developer and manufacturer of innovative, cost-effective energy storage and power delivery solutions. Our ultracapacitor cells and multi-cell modules provide safe and reliable power solutions for applications in consumer and industrial electronics, transportation and telecommunications. Our high-voltage grading and coupling capacitors help to ensure the safety and reliability of electric utility infrastructure and other applications involving transport, distribution and measurement of high-voltage electrical energy. Our radiation-mitigated microelectronic products include power modules, memory modules and single board computers that incorporate powerful commercial silicon for superior performance and high reliability in aerospace applications. For more information, please visit our website: www.maxwell.com.