The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) announced today that it has joined hands with domestic manufacturers and released the first supercapacitor carrier in Taiwan that replaces lead-acid batteries with graphene, which drastically reduces 90% of charging time for electric carriers, as well as elevates 30% of carrying capacity, and overcomes insufficient horsepower on slopes. The carrier is regarded as a revolutionary green energy solution, and has now hit the road at the Xiluo fruit and vegetable market.
According to the 2050 net zero emission roadmap announced by the IEA, an analysis on the actions and schedule of carbon reduction indicates that EVs would occupy 60% of market share by 2030. Supercapacitor carriers do not emit pollutants such as carbon dioxide and particulate matters while on the road, and the adoption of renewable energy for the power structure is the main factor in possessing a lower level of carbon compared to gasoline vehicles.
Cheng Yong-ren, team leader of the Mechanical and Mechatronics Systems Research Labs, commented that the supercapacitor carrier replaces active charcoal-made capacitance with electrode material made with graphene, which achieves higher energy density and charging & discharging efficiency. As a result, the charging time has been drastically brought down from 8 hours (lead-acid batteries) to merely 44 minutes.
Cheng pointed out that graphene is only 1/3 the weight of lead-acid batteries, which allows an additional carrying capacity of roughly 420kg for the vehicle that would elevate over 30% of transportation efficiency for fruits and vegetables, and facilitates expedite applications and popularization of electric carriers in the agricultural field. The supercapacitor carrier is now utilized at the Xiluo fruit and vegetable market, the largest distribution center of fruits and vegetables in the country, and serves prominent significance to the development of Taiwan’s low carbon agriculture.
Huang Yong-sheng, General Manager of Ultrapack Energy, commented that supercapacitor modules have passed multiple security tests, and are advantageous in stable current, with extensive applications on trams, EVs, solar panels, and wind power.
Zhan Qing-nan, Deputy General Manager of Noveltek, commented that supercapacitor carriers possess three major advantages. The first is a power system that better conforms to environmental and safety standards, and the second is a large increment of charging efficiency, with the third being an elevation of nearly 30% in carrying capacity compared to past vehicles.
ITRI is dedicated to the “2030 Technical Strategy and Blueprint” by integrating cross-domain R&D advantages, developing EV technology, and releasing the supercapacitor carrier. The institution aims to achieve sustainability and co-existence for agricultural development and the ecological environment by providing electric carrier solutions that would add values to industries.
(Cover photo source: ITRI)