4 ms·

I could see it used for the superChargers, so they could have more chargers feeding off a smaller power connection. (especially for the ones needed for the sem

• newnewpdro 8y ago
  This is far more plausible, where space is abundant outside the vehicle to keep a cache of supercaps to charge from. Especially if the usage pattern tends to be very bursty. But if the superchargers are (or will be) continuously near 100% utilization it's pointless, they'll need the current at the mains.
• extrapickles 8y ago
  I doubt they will be used for either side of charging. Super/Ultra capacitors cost a lot more than batteries per watt hour.
  • hinkley 8y ago
    Why not in the charge control circuitry in the supercharger? Don’t those use some pretty big caps?
  • jws 8y ago
    In the context of a Supercharger the critical metric would probably be cost per charge/discharge cycle for a given capacity bank. While a car probable averages a fraction of a charge cycle per day, a busy supercharger might be on the order 10 cycles per day. Super capacitors degrade more slowly than batteries with cycles. The use which might make sense is to use the capacitors to supplement the grid supplied power during the initial fast charge phase, then in the slower final charging phases or idle time recharge the capacitors from the grid for the next customer. This levels out the demands on the grid and can result in a lower electricity rate from the power company. It all depends on the constants if it makes sense. Or maybe it doesn't make sense and Tesla needed something out of Maxwell's patent portfolio.