JM Energy to Introduce Higher Capacity Lithium-Ion Capacitors
27 March 2009
Nikkei. JM Energy Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of JSR Corp. will begin mass production this summer of lithium-ion capacitors (LICs) with a 50% larger capacity than its current highest-end product. (Earlier post.)
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| The electrochemical difference between EDLC and Lithium Ion Capacitors. Click to enlarge. |
In 2008, JM Energy, originally a 50-50 joint venture between MIPOX and JSR Corporation formed in August 2007 (now 100% owned by JSR Corporation), began production of a new lithium-ion capacitor that combines the electrode coating technique of MIPOX’s ultra-fine coating technology and new material technologies of JSR Corporation. That LIC offers about four times the energy density of a conventional electric double-layer capacitor (EDLC) and has a voltage of 3.8V, compared to the 2.5V of a conventional EDLC.
JM Energy currently makes up to 25,000 units a month of LICs in storage sizes of 500, 1,000 and 2,000 farads.
The new model will boast a capacity of 3,000 farads and will be sold to manufacturers of construction equipment and large commercial machinery, such as cranes and elevators. It will also have a 50% higher energy density than the products the company now makes, or close to 20 watt-hours per kilogram.
With its existing manufacturing lines already operating at full capacity, JM Energy will double output capacity to 50,000 units a month later this year. It intends to expand its plant in 2011 to boost the figure to 200,000 units—eight times the current level.
Given that the Prius NiMH battery is only 46 Wh/kg, but uses only ~50% of available SOC, this 20 Wh/kg capacitor could actually be quite good for mild-hybrids if cost competitive.
Posted by: clett | 27 March 2009 at 10:00 AM
Maxwell ultracaps have highest energy density in BC series, and it's just 5.1 Wh/kg, which is 2.5 times lower than current JSR ultracaps, and almost 4 times lower than the new model described above (with 20 Wh/kg).
At cell lever Maxwell seem to be far behind JSR, though it may have good modules (of balanced cells).
Posted by: MG | 27 March 2009 at 03:52 PM