A collaboration between a bunch of rocket scientists and car engineers at AFS Trinity Power in California has resulted in a new technology called Fast Energy Storage which will apparently improve the performance and durability of conventional hybrid cars at a relatively low cost.
The idea is to install an Extreme Hybrid drivetrain consisting of a set of ultra-capacitors hooked up to a sophisticated computer control system which will make better use of the batteries in a traditional hybrid set up. The result is conventional style acceleration and performance coupled with improved electrical range and battery life. Sounds cool, eh?
The Extreme Hybrid vehicle differs from today’s popular hybrids in several ways. The most important are the increased capacity of the battery, the ability to recharge the battery from the electric power grid, and, equally important, the presence of a second Fast Energy Storage component that enables rapid acceleration and greater regenerative braking capability. The Extreme Hybrid requires the seamless transfer of power between a number of different devices, including traction motors, generator, charging system, and ancillary loads.
About time!! Long overdue