UltraBattery Combines Super-capacitor And Lead-Acid Cell

A new battery developed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in Melbourne, Australia combines a supercapacitor with a lead-acid battery . The result is the UltraBattery, whose life cycle is four times greater than a standard lead-acid battery, delivers 50 percent more power, is about 70 percent less expensive than contemporary HEV battery systems and offers faster charge and discharge rates.

The UltraBattery can also be used in low-cost modifications for conventional vehicles. One design uses an electric motor and the UltraBattery coupled with a standard internal combustion engine, which could reduce greenhouse gas emissions and cut fuel consumption, according to CSIRO developers.

The new battery has been tested to 100,000 miles in the UK. Currently, CSIRO is working on making the battery lighter and more efficient. Its primary application is likely to be hybrid electric vehicles, however the UltraBattery may also be useful in wind-power and solar-power storage applications.