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High Energy Density, Low‑Cost, High Temperature Capacitors for Hybrid Vehicles--SBE Inc, 131 S Main St, Barre, VT 05641; 802‑476‑4146; http://www.sbei.com/

Mr. Terry Hosking, Principal Investigator, terryh@sbelectronics.com

Mr. Edward Sawyer, Business Official, edsawyer@sbelectronics.com

DOE Grant No. DE‑FG02‑07ER84870

Amount: $100,000

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) and plug-in Hybrid Vehicles (PHEVs) require advanced technology capacitors, which must have low cost and the ability to operate at 150^oC. However, current 150^oC film capacitor solutions are expensive and have lower energy density compared to materials that operate at lower temperatures. Polypropylene Film Capacitors represent a potentially cost effective solution due to their energy storage properties at 150^oC, but the inability to achieve reliable operation above 125^oC has prevented dielectric viability for the vechicle application. This project will develop highly optimized, low-cost, annular ring capacitor structures, using environmentally-friendly metallized polymeric insulating films, to replace electrolytic capacitors in hybrid-vehicle, DC-bus filtering applications. The goal is to increase the upper operating temperature 30% and to raise the useful capacitance density for this application by up to 500%, compared to conventional polymer film capacitors and electrolytic solutions.

Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The new high-performance capacitors, which will use existing manufacturing infrastructure and commercially available materials, should be able to satisfy the price-sensitive auto industry. Then, the probability of its application in niche-market, less price-sensitive areas should be greatly improved.