CAP-XX Automotive Supercapacitor Module Successfully Completes In-Vehicle Stop-Start Trials with Club Assist
Club Assist, a leading provider of roadside assistance and vehicle battery replacement services, has completed in-vehicle testing of an automotive supercapacitor module developed by CAP-XX in Australia.
Sydney, Australia, May 02, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Stop-Start systems are a hot topic in automotive circles, and are appearing in many new vehicles as part of an industry-wide effort to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions. Trouble is, they typically rely on the vehicle’s battery to supply the cranking current, and with tens, or even hundreds of starts required each day, that’s a sure-fire recipe for a short battery life.
One solution is to fit a larger battery, or use a higher cost battery chemistry to deliver acceptable life. Another option is to keep the standard battery, but add a supercapacitor module to supply cranking current directly to the starter motor, and then recharge the supercap module from the alternator once the engine is running. With the supercapacitor shielding the battery from high current loads, its operating life is no longer an issue, and as an added bonus, the supercapacitor improves engine starting performance in cold weather and supports advanced “micro-hybrid” functions like Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) during coasting and braking.
Australian-based company CAP-XX announced the development of an automotive supercapacitor module last year, and demonstrated its performance in long term bench tests using the New European Drive Cycle, in which it delivered more than 110,000 starts with minimal wear on the battery. Now, together with Club Assist - the world’s largest mobile retailer of automotive batteries - they’ve taken it out for a road test.
The CAP-XX module was installed in a Club Assist roadside support vehicle (2.5L petrol Nissan X-Trail), which was then driven 2,750 kilometres in 42 days – a return trip from Adelaide to Melbourne, and then on to several country locations in South Australia. This in-vehicle trial replicated “real world” driver experiences, and subjected the module to a full range of operating conditions - from hot climate environments, to long-distance highway cycles and urban stop-start driving.
During the journey, the supercapacitor module provided over 500 starts without fault, and in one “flat battery cranking” simulation, achieved 8 sequential engine starts without a recharge. The X-Trail was equipped with data capture instruments to enable live monitoring of start performance, charge capacity and charge time, which showed the supercapacitor module accepting a full recharge in less than 8 seconds.
Alan Bradshaw, Vice President, Product and Technical Development with Club Assist said: “We are impressed by the results of our initial evaluation of CAP-XX’s supercapacitor-enhanced stop-start system, which we will continue to evaluate.”
Anthony Kongats, Chief Executive of CAP-XX said: ”We’re delighted with the results of Club Assist’s “in-vehicle” trial, which demonstrates the performance advantages available from a supercapacitor-enhanced battery system.”
CAP-XX is working with automobile manufacturers and Tier-1 component suppliers to commercialise the technology.
About CAP-XX
CAP-XX (LSE:CPX) is a world leader in the design and manufacture of thin, prismatic supercapacitors and energy management systems used in portable and small-scale electronic devices. The unique feature of CAP-XX supercapacitors is their very high power delivery and high energy density in a space-efficient form factor. These attributes are critical for power-hungry consumer and industrial electronics, and offer similar benefits in automotive and other transportation applications. For more information about CAP-XX, visit www.cap-xx.com or contact Peter Buckle, VP Sales & Marketing at sales@cap-xx.com.
About Club Assist
Club Assist partners with trusted motoring club organizations worldwide, improving member experiences through the provision of automotive battery supply and roadside replacement, automotive glass repair and replacement, roadside assistance and other member services. It is the largest mobile automotive battery retailer in the world, serving more than 68 automotive club partners across the globe. For more information about Club Assist, visit www.clubassist.com or contact Doragnes Bradshaw, Corporate Communications Manager on +61 (0) 3 9797 8632
One solution is to fit a larger battery, or use a higher cost battery chemistry to deliver acceptable life. Another option is to keep the standard battery, but add a supercapacitor module to supply cranking current directly to the starter motor, and then recharge the supercap module from the alternator once the engine is running. With the supercapacitor shielding the battery from high current loads, its operating life is no longer an issue, and as an added bonus, the supercapacitor improves engine starting performance in cold weather and supports advanced “micro-hybrid” functions like Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) during coasting and braking.
Australian-based company CAP-XX announced the development of an automotive supercapacitor module last year, and demonstrated its performance in long term bench tests using the New European Drive Cycle, in which it delivered more than 110,000 starts with minimal wear on the battery. Now, together with Club Assist - the world’s largest mobile retailer of automotive batteries - they’ve taken it out for a road test.
The CAP-XX module was installed in a Club Assist roadside support vehicle (2.5L petrol Nissan X-Trail), which was then driven 2,750 kilometres in 42 days – a return trip from Adelaide to Melbourne, and then on to several country locations in South Australia. This in-vehicle trial replicated “real world” driver experiences, and subjected the module to a full range of operating conditions - from hot climate environments, to long-distance highway cycles and urban stop-start driving.
During the journey, the supercapacitor module provided over 500 starts without fault, and in one “flat battery cranking” simulation, achieved 8 sequential engine starts without a recharge. The X-Trail was equipped with data capture instruments to enable live monitoring of start performance, charge capacity and charge time, which showed the supercapacitor module accepting a full recharge in less than 8 seconds.
Alan Bradshaw, Vice President, Product and Technical Development with Club Assist said: “We are impressed by the results of our initial evaluation of CAP-XX’s supercapacitor-enhanced stop-start system, which we will continue to evaluate.”
Anthony Kongats, Chief Executive of CAP-XX said: ”We’re delighted with the results of Club Assist’s “in-vehicle” trial, which demonstrates the performance advantages available from a supercapacitor-enhanced battery system.”
CAP-XX is working with automobile manufacturers and Tier-1 component suppliers to commercialise the technology.
About CAP-XX
CAP-XX (LSE:CPX) is a world leader in the design and manufacture of thin, prismatic supercapacitors and energy management systems used in portable and small-scale electronic devices. The unique feature of CAP-XX supercapacitors is their very high power delivery and high energy density in a space-efficient form factor. These attributes are critical for power-hungry consumer and industrial electronics, and offer similar benefits in automotive and other transportation applications. For more information about CAP-XX, visit www.cap-xx.com or contact Peter Buckle, VP Sales & Marketing at sales@cap-xx.com.
About Club Assist
Club Assist partners with trusted motoring club organizations worldwide, improving member experiences through the provision of automotive battery supply and roadside replacement, automotive glass repair and replacement, roadside assistance and other member services. It is the largest mobile automotive battery retailer in the world, serving more than 68 automotive club partners across the globe. For more information about Club Assist, visit www.clubassist.com or contact Doragnes Bradshaw, Corporate Communications Manager on +61 (0) 3 9797 8632
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CAP-XX
Peter Buckle
+61 2 9420 0690
www.cap-xx.com
Peter Buckle
+61 2 9420 0690
www.cap-xx.com
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