Supercapacitor

MIT researchers have discovered that when you mix cement and carbon black with water, the resulting concrete self-assembles into an energy-storing supercapacitor that can put out enough juice to power a home or fast-charge electric cars.

The world's largest rail vehicle manufacturer has rolled out a zero-emissions train running on hydrogen fuel cells with a supercapacitor buffer. The four-car train is capable of 100 mph (160 km/h), making it the fastest hydrogen train to date.

A new electric energy storage solution from Morand could offer electric city car charging times that undercut gas fill-ups. Its eTechnology hybrid batteries also offer the possibility of much longer battery lifespan.

In an exciting example of what so-called structural batteries could look like, scientists have developed a "power suit" for electric vehicles that could not only extend their range, but give them a handy boost in acceleration at the same time.

Scientists have developed a new type of supercapacitor with the kind of flexibility and durability needed to feature in footwear and clothing, along with other devices making up the Internet of Things.

Although digital body-temperature thermometers may be easier to read than their analog counterparts, there's always the chance that their battery will go flat. That's where the BCool comes in, as you just give it a few shakes to power it up.

An interesting new research project out of Sweden's Linköping University has demonstrated how plant roots can be used as energy storage devices, by watering them with a special solution to make their roots electrically conductive.

Scientists in China have demonstrated a creative approach to flexible energy storage, designing a novel supercapacitor that maintains high capacity when stretched and twisted thanks to accordion-style wrinkles.

By combining miniaturized electronics with some origami-inspired fabrication, scientists have developed what they say is the smallest microsupercapacitor in existence. It's smaller than a speck of a dust but boasts a similar voltage to a AAA battery.

The supercar that widened eyes and hastened heartbeats of children and wealthy businessmen throughout the 1980s is back. Lamborghini's new Countach LPI 800-4 debuts as a Countach for 2021, with modernized styling and a supercapacitor V12 hybrid 4WD.

Along with their batteries, many electric cars now utilize supercapacitors for tasks such as quickly delivering power while accelerating. Thanks to new research, a key component of such devices could soon be made from waste tamarind shells.

Researchers at the Queensland University of Technology have added another hybrid supercapacitor design to the mix, promising the near-instant charge and discharge of a supercap with vastly improved energy storage on par with NiMH batteries.