Earlier this month, Ioxus and Enersys entered a joint product development and marketing agreement under which the two will develop and market new products that leverage the strengths and benefits of combining EnerSys battery technologies with Ioxus ultracapacitor technology. The partnership is similar to one launched by Maxwell and Exide in November 2012. (Earlier post.)

Initially, Hall said, the products resulting from the partnership will likely package the two technologies separately—i.e., ultracapacitor cells or modules and battery cells or banks. There can be applications where the two are combined into one case.

[The customers] don’t necessarily have to know how it works inside. To them, it’s a battery with two posts.

—Chad Hall

Ioxus is initially targeting the large UPS markets—e.g., data centers—where lead acid traditionally has dominated, but which need smaller or higher power products.

There are a couple of different approaches to a combined ultracapacitor-battery product for this market, Hall said. For example, the ultracaps could provide the power, while the battery recharges the ultracapacitor. Or, the battery could be primary, while the ultracapacitor provides support. It all depends on the application, Hall said.

Ioxus is also looking to the transportation market—one of its four main vertical markets—for ultracap-battery solutions.