Ultracapacitors (aka ultracaps or supercapacitors) are the toast of the town, thanks to their rapid charge and discharge capabilities, tolerance of extreme temperature conditions and long operational life. However, their killer application may be as partners with lithium-ion batteries, which offer higher energy density.

Maxwell Technologies (Nasdaq: MXWL), a manufacturer of ultracapacitor-based energy storage products, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Korean energy provider SK Innovation to develop energy storage solutions leveraging the complementary characteristics of SK’s lithium-ion batteries and Maxwell’s ultracaps.

 “As our name implies, we are seeking to move beyond the limitations of existing technologies  to develop and deliver products that better meet the requirements of the most demanding energy storage and power delivery applications,” said Stephen J. Kim of SK Innovation’s battery division. “Our goal is to develop truly differentiated products that will create large new opportunities for both companies.”

“While our respective products currently meet the needs of many applications as stand-alone solutions, Maxwell has always believed that ultracapacitors and batteries can be integrated to provide optimized products that offer the best of both worlds in terms of energy and power,” said David Schramm, Maxwell’s CEO. “We are very pleased to have found a major lithium-ion battery producer in SK Innovation that is willing to invest in joint product and market exploration.”

Source: Maxwell Technologies