Eaton has announced its development of supercapacitor (or ultracapacitor) modules which, when paired with batteries, can extend battery life in electrified (xEV) commercial vehicles and buses.

According to Eaton, the ultra-high capacitance energy storage device can be used on a variety of xEV commercial vehicle applications, ranging from small pickup and delivery vehicles to Class 8 trucks to optimize cost, lifetime and run time.

According to Eaton, the benefits of supercapacitors include having a higher power density than batteries and a longer lifetime with faster response times. This can help OEMs reduce design cycle cost and timing and help predict battery life, the company says.

“Supercapacitor modules are gaining traction in electrified vehicles because they can extend the life of batteries, which are one of the higher priced components,” said Jeff Lowinger, Eaton’s president of eMobility. “An Eaton supercapacitor module has greater power density than batteries along with faster response times for highly efficient charging and discharging. This reduces the high transient loads on the battery, improving life and allowing our customers to get the maximum amount of mileage out of the electrified vehicle.”