Ultra-capacitor assisted electric drives for transportation

Non-Faradic surface effect storage devices such as ultra-capacitors offer pulse power and power cycling capability far in excess of Faradic, bulk storage, electrochemical cells for vehicular use. Vehicle applications for electric drives have been delayed due to technical inadequacy in these fiercely cost sensitive systems. Particularly in safety critical systems such as steer, brake and drive by wire where the cost of redundant systems would be prohibitive. Similarly for the vehicle power train where the demands for idle-stop and electrification of key functions such as engine cranking, electromechanical valve actuation and hybridization are concerned. in this paper both safety critical and power train systems are re-assessed within the context of distributed energy storage modules in the vehicle electrical distribution system to satisfy the requirements for power supply redundancy.