The miniature supercapacitor delivers power density and fast charging in automotive electronic applications, says the company.

The FMU supercapacitor series delivers 1,000 hours at 85°C/85% RH-rated voltage and, claims Kemet, has an industry leading operational temperature range from -40°C to 105°C. The supercapacitors are qualified to an automotive testing protocol and manufactured in an ISO TS 16949-certified plant and subjected to PPAP/PSW and change control.

Suitable automotive applications are those which require a main power system back-up during a power loss, such as ADAS (advanced driving assistance system), autonomous vehicles and central gateway ECUs (engine control units).

Supercapacitors maintain the main power system’s real-time clock or volatile memory when it is removed, such as during a power failure or when the main power system’s battery has been removed for replacement. They also offer power back-up in equipment ranging from IoT devices, smart meters, medical devices and industrial computing.

The FMU miniature supercapacitors use a proprietary aqueous electrolyte that provides high durability against liquid leakage, vibrations and thermal shock for reliability in harsh environments. Aqueous electrolytes are highly conductive, have a low environmental impact and are non-toxic and non-flammable. Unlike a battery, supercapacitors store and release energy quickly through physical adsorption and the ions desorption in the electrolyte between its electrodes.  The supercapacitor’s low internal resistance means they can fully charge within a few seconds, compared to a secondary battery cell which can take from 10 minutes to several hours to fully charge. Moreover, there is no theoretical limit to the life cycle, whereas a lithium-ion secondary cell has a finite lifetime of about 500 cycles. They also typically have a greater resistance to moisture absorption than organic compounds, for a longer life with better stability, says the company.

Kemet is a Yageo Group company. The FMU supercapacitors are available immediately via distributors.