AUTOSUPERCAP - Development of High Energy/High Power Density Supercapacitors for Automotive Applications

  • Project team:

    Weil, Marcel (Project leader); Torsten Fleischer, Jens Buchgeister, Hanna Dura, Benedikt Zimmermann

  • Funding:

    EU, 7. Forschungsrahmenprogramm

  • Start date:

    2011

  • End date:

    2014

  • Project partners:

    The University of Surrey (UK, Project coordination), MAST Carbon International (UK), NCSR Demokritos (Greece), Bayer Technology Services GmbH & Bayer MaterialScience GmbH (Germany), Centro Ricerche Fiat (CRF, Italy), Institute of Composite and Biomedical Materials - National Research Council (Italy), Oerlikon Graziano (Italy), ABSL Power Solutions Ltd. (UK)

  • Research group:

    Research for Sustainable Energy Technologies

Project description

Supercapacitors are essential in electric vehicles for delivering power in the acceleration phase, which is a considerable proportion of a driving cycle, as well as to recover energy during braking which is also recommended for a sustainable energy and power system of a modern vehicle. High power and sufficient energy density (per kilogram) are required for both the performance of the power system but also to reduce the requested weight of supercapacitors. There are several issues to achieve a high performance/low weight power system that not only need to be addressed by various groups of scientists and engineers but those issues need to be analysed and processed in an integrated framework.

In this project, a multidisciplinary Consortium of leading researchers, research organisations, highly experienced industrialists, and highly active SMEs is assembled to tackle the problems. As a result, the consortium is aiming at developing supercapacitors of both high power and high energy density at affordable levels by the automotive industry, and of higher sustainability than many current electrochemical storage devices.

The objectives of this project are:

(a) Develop different types of carbon materials and structures as electrodes for supercapacitors in combination with different electrolytes and separating membranes, with the aim of a tenfold increase of current maximum energy density while maintaining high power density at least at 25 kW/kg. More specifically, binary carbon structure electrodes are targeted to have an energy density of more than 25 Wh/hr and a power density of 25 kW/kg.

(b) In selecting the best supercapacitor cells for further scale up and fabrication of one or more supercapacitor banks, the selection criteria will be apart from the power and energy density performance, also a cost level of 10E/kW for large scale commercial production. The objective is to achieve all three criteria.

(c) Perform power system simulations and parametric studies to investigate the effects of a high energy density/high power density supercapacitor on an efficient and sustainable automotive power system, and design a supercapacitor bank to optimise the performance of the power system.

(d) Perform a cost and life-cycle-analysis of the proposed supercapacitors for their applications in electric vehicles to assess the business case, economic and environmental sustainability.

Publications


2016
Presentations
Dura, H.; Weil, M.; Zimmermann, B.; Lekakou, C.; Markoulidis, F.; Wilson, P.; Perry, J.; Tennis, S.; Decker, M.
LCA and LCC of a supercapacitor for automotive applications in the early development stage
2016. 10th Society and Materials Conference, Roma, I, May 9-10, 2016 
Weil, M.; Wendler, N.; Fournier, G.; Schneider, A.; Dura, H.; Harbers, T.; Zimmermann, B.; Rodriguez-Garcia, G.; Peters, J.; Simon, B.; Baumann, M.
System analysis for the recycling of carbon fiber reinforced plastic materials from electric vehicles production
2016. 10th Society and Materials Conference, Roma, I, May 9-10, 2016 
2015
Book Chapters
Lekakou, C.; Sorniotti, A.; Lei, C.; Markoulidis, F.; Wilson, P. C.; Santucci, A.; Tennison, S.; Amini, N.; Trapalis, C.; Carotenuto, G.; Khalil, S.; Martorana, B.; Cannavaro, I.; Gosso, M.; Perry, J.; Hoy, C.; Weil, M.; Dura, H.; Viotto, F.
AUTOSUPERCAP: Development of High Energy and High Power Density Supercapacitor Cells
2015. Electric Vehicle Batteries: Moving from Research towards Innovation : Reports of the PPP European Green Research towards Innovation. Hrsg.: E. Briec, 33–43, Springer International Publishing. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-12706-4_3 
Journal Articles
Zimmermann, B. M.; Dura, H.; Baumann, M.; Weil, M. R.
Prospective time-resolved LCA of fully electric supercap vehicles in Germany
2015. Integrated environmental assessment and management, 11, 425–434. doi:10.1002/ieam.1646 
Presentations
Weil, M.
Ökobilanzierung und Ökobilanz-Tools - Methode der umweltbezogenen Nachhaltigkeitsanalyse
2015. Vortrag im Bauhaus der Universität Weimar (2015), Weimar, Germany, June 18–19, 2015 
Weil, M.; Buchgeister, J.
Introduction of systems analysis and life cycle assessment (LCA)
2015. ITAS PhD Program Systems Analysis and LCA, Karlsruhe, June 15, 2015 
2014
Journal Articles
Zimmermann, B. M.; Dura, H.; Weil, M.
Towards time-resolved LCA of electric vehicles in Germany
2014. Metallurgical research & technology, 111, 169–178. doi:10.1051/metal/2014009 
Presentations
Rodriguez Garcia, G.; Weil, M.
Potential environmental impacts of Li-ion batteries and supercapacitors: Toxicity of carbon nanotubes
2014. 14th Ulm ElectroChemical Talks (UECT 2014), Ulm, June 23-26, 2014 
Weil, M.; Baumann, M.; Zimmermann, B.
Life cycle assessment for responsible research and innovation
2014. Workshop on ’Advancing Life Cycle Assessment for Responsible Research and Innovation’, S.NET 2014, Karlsruhe, September 21-24, 2014, Annual S.NET Meeting (2014), Karlsruhe, Germany, September 21–24, 2014 
Weil, M.; Dura, H.; Zimmermann, B.; Simon, B.; Ziemann, S.; Baumann, M.; Garcia, G. R.
Economic and life cycle assessment of new materials for supercapacitors
2014. 13th International Conference on Modern Materials and Technologies (CIMTEC 2014), Montecatini Terme, I, June 15-19, 2014, 13th International Conference on Modern Materials and Technologies (2014), Montecatini Terme, Italy, June 15–19, 2014 
Zimmermann, B.; Dura, H.; Baumann, M.; Weil, M.
Towards comparative short-period time-resolved life cycle assessment of differently charged electric vehicles
2014. 24th SETAC Europe (2014), Basel, Switzerland, May 11–15, 2014 
Zimmermann, B.; Dura, H.; Rodriguez Garcia, G.; Weil, M.
Lifecycle-based fate analysis of carbon nanotubes in automotive supercapacitor applications
2014. NANOStruc 2014 International Conference on Structural Nano Composites (NanoStruc 2014), Madrid, E, May 20-21, 2014 
Zimmermann, B.; Weil, M.
Comparing production efforts and efficiency benefits of nanomaterials over the life cycle
2014. NANOStruc 2014 International Conference on Structural Nano Composites (NanoStruc 2014), Madrid, E, May 20-21, 2014 
2013
Book Chapters
Dura, H.; Perry, J.; Lecacou, T.; Markoulidis, F.; Lei, C.; Khalil, S.; Decker, M.; Weil, M.
Cost analysis of supercapacitor cell production
2013. Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Clean Electrical Power Renewable Energy Resources Impact (ICCEP) in Alghero, Sardinien, 11.-13.06.2013. Hrsg.: ICCEP, 516–523, IEEEXplore. doi:10.1109/ICCEP.2013.6586902 
Weil, M.; Dura, H.; Simon, B.; Baumann, M.; Zimmermann, B.; Ziemann, S.; Lei, C.; Markoulidis, F.; Lekakou, T.; Decker, M.
Ecological assessment of nano materials for the production of electrostatic/electrochemical energy storage systems
2013. Structural Nanocomposites: Perspectives for Future Applications. Ed.: J. Njuguna, Njuguna, J. [Hrsg.] Structural Nanocomposites : Perspectives for Future Applications Berlin [u.a.] : Springer, 2013 (Engineering Materials), 259–269, Springer-Verlag. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-40322-4_12 
Conference Papers
Zimmermann, B.; Baumann, M.; Simon, B.; Dura, H.; Weil, M.
A comparative analysis of the cumulative energy demand of stationary grid-integrated battery systems
2013. Proceedings of the International Conference on Clean Electrical Power (ICCEP 2013), Alghero, I, June 11-13, 2013, Proceedings of the International Conference on Clean Electrical Power (ICCEP 2013), Alghero, I, June 11-13, 2013 Piscataway, N.J. : IEEE, 2013, 87–92, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 
Presentations
Zimmermann, B.
Einführung in das Thema Ökobilanz
2013. Seminar Technikfolgenabschätzung des KIT (2013), Karlsruhe, Germany, June 7, 2013 
Zimmermann, B.; Baumann, M.; Simon, B.; Dura, H.; Weil, M.
A comparative analysis of the cumulative energy demand of stationary grid-integrated battery systems
2013. International Conference on Clean Electrical Power (ICCEP 2013), Alghero, I, June 11-13, 2013, International Conference on Clean Electrical Power (ICCEP 2013), Alghero, Italy, June 11–13, 2013 
Zimmermann, B.; Dura, H.; Baumann, M.; Weil, M.
Towards prospective time-resolved LCA of fully electric supercap-vehicles in Germany
2013. SETAC Europe 19th LCA Case Study Symposium, Roma, I, November 11-13, 2013, 19th SETAC Europe LCA Case Study Symposium (2013), Rome, Italy, November 11–13, 2013 
Zimmermann, B.; Dura, H.; Weil, M.
Towards prospective time-resolved LCA of automotive supercap application
2013. Ökobilanzwerkstatt (2013), Graz, Austria, September 23–25, 2013 
Zimmermann, B.; Dura, H.; Weil, M.
Towards time-resolved LCA of electric vehicles on the German market
2013. 7th International Conference on Society and Materials (SAM 2013), Aachen, April 25-26, 2013 
Zimmermann, B.; Weil, M.
Life cycle assessment of carbon nanotubes in lithium-ion batteries
2013. 6. Entwicklerforum Akkutechnologien, Aschaffenburg, 25.-27. Juni 2013 
Zimmermann, B.; Weil, M.
LCA of carbon nanotubes in lithium-ion traction batteries
2013. Workshop of the International Energy Agency and Hybrid Electric Vehicle (IEA-HEV); Task 19 ’Life Cycle Assessment of EVs’, Chicago, Ill., April 25-26, 2013 
Posters
Zimmermann, B.; Weil, M.
Life cycle assessment of carbon nanotube enhanced lithium iron-phosphate batteries in traction applications
2013. 2nd International Conference on Materials for Energy (EnMat 2013), Karlsruhe, 12.-16. Mai 2013 
2012
Journal Articles
Weil, M.; Dura, H.; Shimon, B.; Baumann, M.; Zimmermann, B.; Ziemann, S.; Lei, C.; Markoulidis, F.; Lekakou, T.; Decker, M.
Ecological assessment of nano-enabled supercapacitors for automotive applications
2012. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 40, 012013/1–6. doi:10.1088/1757-899X/40/1/012013 
Presentations
Dura, H.; Weil, M.; Aebi, A.
Comparative LCA of an electric light weight and conventional vehicle in urban driving
2012. 18th SETAC Europe LCA Case Study Symposium, Copenhagen, DK, November 26-28, 2012 
Simon, B.; Zimmermann, B.; Weil, M.
Meta-analysis of lithium-ion traction batteries’ LCA
2012. 18th SETAC Europe LCA Case Study Symposium (2012), Copenhagen, Denmark, November 26–28, 2012 
Weil, M.; Dura, H.; Simon, B.; Baumann, M.; Zimmermann, B.; Ziemann, S.; Lei, C.; Markoulidis, F.; Lekakou, T.; Decker, M.
Environmental and cost analysis of nano materials for energy storage systems
2012. 4th International Conference NANOCON, Brno, CZ, October 23-25, 2012, NANOCON (2012), Brno, Czechia, October 23–25, 2012 
Weil, M.; Dura, H.; Simon, B.; Baumann, M.; Zimmermann, B.; Ziemann, S.; Lei, C.; Markoulidis, F.; Lekakou, T.; Decker, M.
Ecological assessment of nano enabled supercapacitors for automotive applications
2012. NanoStruc : Internat.Conf.on Structural Nano Composites, Cranfield, GB, July 2-4, 2012, International Conference on Structural Nano Composites (NANOSTRUC 2012), Cranfield, United Kingdom, July 2–4, 2012 
Posters
Dura, H.; Weil, M.; Baumann, M.; Simon, B.
Considering techno-socio-ecological aspects to support a sustainability analysis of passenger transport in urban areas
2012. Rete Italiana LCA - What is sustainable technology? : 2nd Dire Working Group Meeting, Roma, I, September 27, 2012, 2nd Dire Working Group Meeting (2012), Rome, Italy, September 27, 2012 

Contact

Dr.-Ing. Marcel Weil
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS)
P.O. Box 3640
76021 Karlsruhe
Germany

Tel.: +49 721 608-26718
E-mail