Capacitor electric vehicle

High school (ages 12+)
Transportation

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/capacitor-electric-vehicle

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the energy storage technology?Supercapacitors (ultracapacitors) utilizing electrostatic energy storage
2. What is the comparative energy density (circa 2010)?Approximately 5% of that of lithium-ion batteries
3. Why do capacitor electric vehicles charge so fast?Supercapacitors store energy electrostatically, letting them absorb and deliver power in seconds, not minutes or hours.
4. Where are capacitor electric vehicles most useful?They are great for buses or trams that stop often, because they can recharge quickly at stops or depots.

Supercapacitor (Ultracapacitor): An electrochemical device storing energy electrostatically, characterized by high power density and rapid charge/discharge cycles.
Energy Density: The amount of energy stored per unit of volume or mass.
Power Density: The amount of power that can be delivered or absorbed per unit of volume or mass.
Regenerative Braking: A system that captures kinetic energy during deceleration and converts it into electrical energy for storage.