Capacitors could extend range of EVs
1 min read
Despite their ability to store large amounts of energy, capacitors have had restricted use in electric vehicles until now due to their limited temperature rating.
Now, however, a team from the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) has created a capacitor which it says can operate at close to normal efficiencies at temperatures over 200ºC – nearly triple that of curent devices.
"Industrial electronics need to be able to perform in the harsh environments in which they operate," commented Tatiana Correia, who led the work. "The ability of these capacitors to function at higher temperatures than existing capacitors will help make electronic systems more robust and remove barriers for technologies such as electric vehicles that rely on them."
According to Correia, the capacitors can be made in a conventional multi-layer design from relatively cheap raw materials using standard fabrication methods.
As well as having applications in the automobile industry, she believes they could also improve high temperature electronics in the aerospace, power, and oil & gas sectors.
