The supercapacitor component thats needed for propulsion power in hydrogen fuel cell cars

No large electric or hydrogen car brand has applied a supercapacitor component as a potential energy
turbo accelerating propulsion module, even though adding a 2 kilowatt-hour supercapacitor to fuel
cell engine can theoretically increase the fuel cell cars horsepower by a multitude of 5, to a staggering
804 potential additional horsepower output. If 0-100 Kmp-h, were achievable at 600 horsepower in 3
seconds, the full charge of the 2kw-h supercapacitor would be able to do this 6 times consecutively
from 0-100 Kmp-h, 1 while after being recharged feeding excess capacity into the supercapacitor for
recharging, after acceleration the car could drive at an maximum silent 143 horsepower at standard
speed.

Neither the Tesla model S2, the Toyota Mirai3 or Hyundai ix354; report holding an significant
supercapacitor bank in their technical specifications
The Hyundai ix35 has an 100 kilowatt5 hydrogen fuel cell with an 2 kilowatt-hour complementary
battery. The 100 kilowatt fuel cell converts to 134 Horsepower, with a driving range of 594 km, a fuel
cell capacity of 5.63 kg and goes from 0-100 km in 12.5 seconds.
The Toyota Mirai has an dual powered electric motor with Power output of 151 Horse Power, that
coverts to 113 kilowatt, powered by 114 kilowatt fuel cell generator, consisting of an 5 K.G. hydrogen
fuel tank6, with an approximate range of 502 km per fill, with a filling time of 5-3 minutes. The
Toyota Mirai also has fuel cell boost converter Nickel-metal hydride 9 KW Battery7, reaching 0-100
Km in 10.1 seconds.
The Tesla model S P100D has an 100 kilowatt-hour battery that can go from 0-100 Km-h in 2.5
seconds.8

1
2 kilowatt-hour/380 Kilowatt-hour= 0.0053 hour>< 3600 seconds in an hour= 12 seconds
2
http://www.guideautoweb.com/en/specifications/tesla/model-s/60/2017/
3
https://pressroom.toyota.com/releases/2016+toyota+mirai+fuel+cell+product.download
4
http://worldwide.hyundai.com/wcm/idc/groups/sgvehiclecontent/@hmc/documents/sitecontent/mdaw/mtaz/~edisp/brochure
-ix35fuelcell-2015.pdf
5
1.34 horsepower per 1 KW
http://convert-to.com/conversion/power/convert-kw-to-hp.html
6
http://www.pcworld.com/article/3003970/car-tech/meet-the-first-toyota-mirai-and-the-big-expensive-plan-to-keep-this-
hydrogen-car- alive.html
7
https://pressroom.toyota.com/releases/2016+toyota+mirai+fuel+cell+product.download
8
https://www.wired.com/2016/08/tesla-model-s-ludicrous-100-battery-news/

1
Supercapacitors are more expensive than batteries in terms of energy density however supercapacitors
are cheaper than batteries in terms of power output.
A fuel cell cars horsepower is determined by its electrical power output, coming from its fuel cells
kilowatt power output and the kilowatt power output from a complementary battery. In terms of
acceleration and horsepower output fuel cell cars are currently uncompetitive with battery powered
cars. Electric cars have a high power output for acceleration purposes from their large power bank,
with a hydrogen cars propulsion power being limited power output fuel cell.

A 1 kilowatt-hour Supercapacitor has an maximum power output of 300 kilowatt9, a 2 kilowatt-hour

supercapacitor would enable 600 kilowatt power output, weighing 100 kg10 at 20 W/Kg11.
The 2 kilowatt-hour would enable an additional maximum power output of 600 kilowatt, with 1
kilowatt converting to 1.34 Horsepower, calculating to a total potential horsepower 804 horsepower
output capacity12 .
The 2 kilowatt-hour supercapacitor would have a power output that can spin an engine own its own at
600 kilowatt or 804 horsepower, for 12 seconds13. The 2 kilowatt-hour supercapacitor can spin an
engine on its own at 300 horsepower for 32 seconds 14 in addition to the fuel cells power output
capacity.

Once the car has used most power output by accelerating, the supercapacitor can be charged by the
excess capacity of the fuel cell, at 50 kilowatt excess capacity it would take the supercapacitor 2.4
minutes 15 to fully recharge, at 20 kilowatt excess engine capacity it would take the supercapacitor 6
minutes16 to fully recharge.

The fuel cell cars slow acceleration is due to the high kilowatt power output needed during
acceleration, which is limited and constant to the usually 100 kilowatt or 134 Horsepower fuel cell.
The propulsion power is limited to the power output of the battery or fuel cell17 feeding the max
power output kilowatt electric direct current engine. Combining the fuel cell car system with a
supercapacitor storage mechanism can increase propulsion power substantially when needed during

9
http://energystoragesense.com/supercapacitors/ typical Capacity: Up to 1 kWh: Up to 300 kW
10
2 kw-h sc= 20 watt per kg= 2000watt/20watt = 100kg
However Many university R&D labs are getting around 50 Wh/kg using graphene https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-
highest-energy-density-supercapacitor
11
20 Watt per K.g. is relatively light for a supercapacitor, even though supercapacitors could become lighter using graphene
as an electrode material.
13
2 kilowatt-hour/600 Kilowatt-hour= 0.003333 hour>< 3600 seconds in an hour= 12 seconds
14
300 horsepower/1.34 conversion rate= 223.88 KW, 2KW-h/223.88= 0.0089><3600= 32 seconds.
15
2Kw-h /50 KW = 0.04><60minutes= 2.4 minutes
16
2Kw-h/20 KW = 0.01><60 minutes= 6 minutes
17
if not combined with a supercapacitor

2
acceleration. The Tesla S P100D has an 439 kilowatt / 58818 horsepower li-ion maximum power
supply, that enables the model S to reach 100 kmp-h in almost 2.5 seconds19, therefore there is not
much need to apply an additional supercapacitor bank to a Tesla car.

To fit the supercapacitor within a fuel cell car, the issues to overcome is keeping the cost within in the
production budget, maintaining a high energy density while also retaining a high power output
capacity and space to fit the Supercapacitor component in the hydrogen car.

Theoretical example: Adding a 2 Kw-h SC bank to a 75 KW fuel cell

In this mathematical example we will use the numbers of an Hyundais ix35; we will add a 2
kilowatt-hour supercapacitor to its engine and reduce the cars weight by reducing the fuel cell from
100 kilowatt to 75 kilowatt. The Hyundais ix35, 100 kilowatt fuel cell weights about 150kg20, we
will reduce it by 25%, resulting in an weight of 112.5 kilograms, in addition to the 100 kg21
supercapacitor, the engines weight will be around 212.5 k.g. (not including the DC motor and other
components). 212.5k.g. > is relatively heavy with an average engines weighing weighting around 160
k.g.22

Adding the 2 kilowatt-hour supercapacitor to the ix35 would enable an additional maximum

18
http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/videos/a32690/tesla-model-s-p100d-dyno-horsepower-torque/
19
https://www.wired.com/2016/08/tesla-model-s-ludicrous-100-battery-news/
20
100><1.5KG= 150 kg, power to watt ratio is approx. 1.5 kW/kg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-to-weight_ratio

This is a relatively heavy fuel cell engine compared to the low 143 horse power output and low acceleration propulsion in
relation to the distance 594 km it can travel.

21
2 kw-h sc= 20 watt per kg= 2000watt/20watt = 100kg
22
An average engines weight is around 160 kg https://www.google.es/webhp?sourceid=chrome-
instant&rlz=1C5CHFA_enDK547DK547&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF- 8#q=weight%20of%20a%20car%20engine

3
horsepower output of 600 kilowatt.23 1 kilowatt converts to 1.34 Horsepower24, which calculates to a
total potential horsepower 804 horsepower output capacity25 solely by the supercapacitor.

2 kilowatt-hour supercapacitor in addition to the 75 kilowatt fuel cell and 2 kilowatt battery26 has an
maximum power output of 915 Horsepower27 that can spin an DC engine at 915 horsepower for 12
seconds28, where after the supercapacitor will need to be recharged and the car can drive on its 75
kilowatt fuel cell and 2 kilowatt-hour remaining battery at 111 horsepower battery. At an more
realistic 300 total horsepower engine the car can drive at 300 horsepower for a total of 51 seconds29.

The fuel cell cars extreme slow acceleration is due to the high kilowatt power output needed during
acceleration, which is limited and constant to the usually 75-100 Kilowatt or 101-134 Horsepower
fuel cell. The propulsion power is limited to the power output of the battery or fuel cell feeding the
max power output kilowatt electric engine. Combining this system with a supercapacitors storage
mechanism can increase output substantially.For acceleration and quality purposes it would be
commercial to place a 1-2 kilowatt-hour supercapacitor a fuel cells car, it perfectly matches the fuel
cells capabilities of 500 km> range, fast refuelling time and durability.

Commercial viability of the supercapacitors turbo mechanism

The recent development and commercialization of the hydrogen cars has prioritized the cars price,
long range and effective fuel cell with battery. In terms of acceleration as this article shows the fuel
cell car is outcompeted by the electric car in terms of propulsion power for technical reasons. In the
consumer car market there is a direct relation between the price consumers are willing to pay for a car
and its propulsion power / horsepower output30.

23
1 kilowatt-hour supercapacitor has a maximum power output of 300 kilowatt, 2 kilowatt-hour supercapacitor would equal
600 kilowatt power output.
24
1.34 horsepower per 1 KWhttp://convert-to.com/conversion/power/convert-kw-to-hp.html
25
600 KW>< 1.34horsepower=804 horsepower

26
The ix35 Fuel Cell is equipped with a lightweight and compact lithium polymer battery with high output and efficiency,
which temporarily stores a portion of the electricity generated by the fuel cell stack. Electricity stored in the battery, along
with electricity generated by
the stack, is used to give the vehicle an extra boost during acceleration.

http://m.hyundai.com/wcm/idc/groups/sgvehiclecontent/@hmc/documents/sitecontent/mdaw/mdg0/~edisp/brochure-
ix35fuelcell-2013.pdf

27
600+75+8=683><1.34=915
28
2Kw-h 600 KW =300 KW = 1Kw-h (1 hour=3600 seconds)/300KW=6 seconds
29
111=189kw/1.34hp=141/2=70.5KWSC3600seconds /1KW-h 70.5KW =51 seconds
30
https://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/vehicles/class/class-S/bodystyle-CPE
https://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/vehicles/class/class-CLA/bodystyle-CPE

4
Car companies have acted upon a consumer preference of propulsion power in terms of a sports
button, fast acceleration or turbo booster. Exclusive fast cars in a higher price category often place a
commercial marketing emphasis on their 0-100 Km-h capabilities. In advertisement and in movies the
nitro power turbo capabilities also have a commercial aspect that electric and hydrogen cars can act
upon. For the hydrogen car to be accepted by consumers for its higher price category it is important
commercial aspects such as competitive levels of propulsion power, acceleration and turbo
mechanisms to be integrated in future engines and marketing campaigns. With a supercapacitor
module in a hydrogen car the consumer can preview or select charging mode of its turbo component.
If these issues are addressed its most likely hydrogen cars can outcompete electric cars based on
environmental aspects31, range potential, refilling time and longer functioning. Once consumers
accept, demand and introduce the hydrogen car additional refilling station infrastructure will be made
available by the market.

31
Li-ion batteries are remote products, they can only do 3000 cycles, therefore in electric cars lifetime they would need to be
replaced several times. If everyone were to drive an electric car today, there would be a huge amount of lithium waste thats
unrecyclable. Lithium is Lithium is 5 times more expensive to recycle https://waste-management-world.com/a/1-the-lithium-
battery-recycling-challenge than to produce from raw materials, this would make recycling li-ion batteries / remote lithium
uneconomical and make market recycling technologies unavailable in the market. Hydrogen cars fuel cell or supercapacitors
on the other hand are not remote nor toxic and have a considerable longer lifespan.