Add a Comment
Email This
Statistics
RE: HUGE
I agree, a breakthrough in ultracapacitors would change the world. Of course this all depends on how small and cheap they can make them, but, if they could get the power density and price of batteries but with the indefinite lifetime of standard capacitors, it would replace oil altogether, it would drastically change the transporation industry, the energy industry, the electronics industry, heh, basically anything that can run on electricity. It would make the use of sustainable energy much more practical as we could store solar and wind energy for when its not windy/sunny.
Although, I suspect there'll be some hurdles. Either, using the nanomaterial will make the capacitors more fragile and make their duration more like that of batteries or the smallness of the insulation will result in big leak currents and they will discharge when left alone. But hey, never know.
I wonder if there is a theoretical limit to the power density capacitors can acheive?
RSS
HUGE
Unless this technology is extremely expensive, I don't see why it wouldn't have a huge impact on ... well, on everything that takes batteries.
Hybrid/electric cars would no longer have the downside of battery replacement cost, charge time or environmental impact of discarded batteries, which could greatly accelerate the switch from ICE-pure vehicles and promote U.S. oil independence.
On a more personal and less important level, it is hard to imagine being able to charge my cell phone, razor, bluetooth headset, toothbrush, camera, wireless mouse, etc. in a matter of seconds. I don't have one, but the impact on laptop use might be the biggest of all, seeing the effect that battery performance has in that industry.
The article states, 'Schindall's groups expects their prototype to be finished in the next few months, and they hope to see them on the market in less than five years.' I can't wait until 2011 ...
View Full Discussion