Ultracapacitors set for fuel cell duties

General Hydrogen Corp has placed a 200,000-unit three-year purchase order for Boostcap ultracapacitors to enhance performance and energy management in its Hydricity pack technology.

General Hydrogen Corp, a leading developer of hydrogen-fuel-cell-based power systems for electric forklifts, has placed a 200,000 unit, three-year, purchase order for Boostcap ultracapacitors to enhance performance and energy management in its Hydricity pack technology.

Dr Richard Balanson, Maxwell's President and Chief Executive Officer, said that the purchase order is part of a strategic supply agreement through which General Hydrogen will source ultracapacitors exclusively from Maxwell and receive strategic pricing if volume thresholds specified in the purchase order are reached.

He said that each Hydricity system incorporates 30 to 120 Boostcap MC2600 2.6kF ultracapacitor cells, and that General Hydrogen expects that its volume requirements will escalate rapidly over the next three years.

"General Hydrogen is a leading integrator of fuel cell power systems for a range of industrial vehicles, particularly battery-electric forklifts", Balanson said.

"This is one of dozens of high-volume industrial and transportation applications that are creating a multi-billion-dollar opportunity for ultracapacitors in the coming decade, and we continue to move aggressively to strengthen Maxwell's capabilities and global reach to capitalise on that opportunity".

Frank Trotter, General Hydrogen's President and Chief Executive Officer, said that Hydricity Pack power systems are an economical "drop-in" replacement today for lead-acid batteries in Class I electric forklifts.

"Maxwell's ultracapacitors are a critical element that helps us triple the runtime of forklifts, eliminating the average three lead-acid battery sets per vehicle and the extensive infrastructure normally associated with the recharging and care of high-use conventional battery-electric forklifts", Trotter said.

"Ultracapacitors' burst power capabilities, energy recapture efficiency and long operating life make them an ideal complement to hydrogen fuel cells".

"Incorporating them enables us to optimise system efficiency and response time and reduce overall system size and cost", Trotter added.

"Our customers want power systems that require minimal maintenance and operate reliably for many years, and we believe that incorporating Boostcap ultracapacitors as a key component of our Hydricity pack fuel cell systems will enable us to meet their expectations".

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