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 Euro 6 emission standards 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.

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 +65 °C), 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.