Extreme Capacitors: Lightweight Power Packs for Electric Vehicles
Extreme Capacitors is one of 12 semi-finalists in the 2009 Pacific Northwest Clean Tech Open. The company has developed a new generation of super capacitors that will have 10X the energy storage per pound of existing materials. Denis Du Bois interviews Karl Young, founder/CEO. (podcast)
September 30, 2009
Podcast
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Music by Chris Keister
Program Notes
Extreme Capacitors has developed a new generation of super capacitors to power electric cars with a combination of high energy and low weight -- the Holy Grail of hybrids and EVs.The capacitors could also be used in EV charging stations that would help utilities to level loads and shave the power demand peaks that would come with widespread EV adoption. With enough power density in a super capacitor, a driver could go 200 to 300 miles, and recharge in under 5 minutes by tapping into a larger super capacitor in a parking garage.
Founder and CEO Karl Young envisions other uses for high-density capacitors, such as electric airplanes, distributed load leveling, and industrial-strength backup power.
The Pacific Northwest Clean Tech Open is a business plan competition. Twelve semifinalist companies were chosen from a field of 56 entries. Semifinalists will compete for three $50,000 regional prizes. Those three finalists will advance to a national competition and a chance to secure a $250,000 (cash and services) national prize. Along the way, the companies receive support from industry Mentors to help take their ideas to the next level.