Joule Thief

[Pirate88179]

@ ArticKnight:


Yes, I posted about that way back somewhere.  In was advertised about 4 months ago in a trade magazine I get in the PI business.  Quite pricey though. I will be making my own for maybe $20 in parts.  This is the second device I have seen on the open market using supercaps instead of batteries.  (The other is a cordless drill that came out about 1.5 years ago.)  I keep telling everyone that will listen that supercaps are the energy storage device of the future, and we can play with them now.  Same thing with leds, these are the lights of the future and getting bigger, more efficient and brighter every month.  Good catch on the review, I would have never seen it if you did not post it.

@ All:

One day in the not too far future, all electric cars will operate using super capacitors for energy storage instead of batteries.  Trust me on this, it is happening as we speak.

Bill

[WilbyInebriated]

these guys have been around for a couple years using the ultracap tech
http://www.solarpathusa.com/

[sparks]

     Imagine Bill using a supercapacitor that is in electrical resonance with the drive motor inductance.   You get up in the morning and make sure the supercap is at full charge in case of any leakage overnight.  Ah what the hell give it a kick from the house resonant circuit.  Hop in and drive all day.  Get home and check the supercap.  Damn it's low that old alternator belt driving off the main motor is slipping again.  I know I should have bought  a Tesla they got themselves that dragless solid state alternator deal for auxillary electrical loads and supercap top off.

[Pirate88179]

@ Wilby:

Excellent post!  I love stuff like this.  It says they don't use ANY batteries in their product line, just supercaps.  They are ahead of their time.  I hope everyone looks at this site. Thanks.

Bill

[Pirate88179]

@ Sparks:

Yes, and when you do need to juice it up, it takes minutes not hours to do so.  The very best part is that these caps can take millions of charge/drain/recharge cycles with no degradation in performance.  The batteries used today will last maybe 3-4 years and need to be replaced like we do our cell phone batteries at a cost of like $5,000.00!!!  I think most folks buying these hybrids are not told about that part.....they will find out in a few years.  What little money they saved in gas will be dwarfed by the batteries expense.

Interesting you mention the Tesla.  They are already using some supercaps and moving toward the complete changeover in a year or two I read.  If they made and sold 1 million Teslas a year, the cost would be down to where most could afford it.

Bill