New technology could help increase electric vehicle range

UK scientists claim to have developed a way to help electric vehicles (EVs) travel further on a single battery charge by simplifying their power electronics.

Researchers led by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) have created a new material they say acts as a much more effective capacitor than those currently used in EVs, which require complex cooling systems that add weight to the car.

The NPL-led team have built a prototype capacitor using the ceramic material and claim it can function at much higher temperatures than conventional devices made with liquid electrolytes or polymers and hold more energy.

Electric vehicle capacitors store energy during the process of converting DC power from the battery to AC power for the motor.

This produces a large amount of heat, even in highly efficient power electronics systems. Liquid electrolytes chemically decompose above a certain temperature so a cooling system is essential to prevent potential safety issues.

The researchers say the new capacitor, dubbed HITECA, can operate at close to normal efficiency at temperatures over 200ºC and can be made in a conventional multi-layer design from relatively cheap raw materials using standard fabrication methods.

The NPL-group is now looking to integrate the capacitor technology into an EV power electronics system for further testing.

They believe the new capacitor could be used for any systems that involve power conversion under extreme conditions, for example in photovoltaic solar, space or oil and gas technology.

The research was funded by the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) and partners included Queens University of Belfast, Queen Mary University, capacitor firm Syfer and French automotive component manufacturer Valeo.

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