My two-pennorth:Im looking into incorporating super or ultra caps into my design project to deal with the power generated from regen braking.
Does anyone know what kinds of current/energy transfer rate a lithium ion battery can handle? I dont want to waste time looking at capacitors if the batteries can already take it.
I heard the specific energy storage of capacitors (Energy storage/mass) is lower than liion batteries as well, so i guess theres no reason to have them unless the energy from regen braking is being transfered at such a short space of time that they become neccesary...?
- Many suppliers now seem to offer high power or high energy variants of Li-Ion batteries. The high power ones have high C rating (C rating x amp hours = max current): better acceleration and regenerative braking. The high energy ones have more watt hours per kg: better range. There is little for it but to read about C rating until you understand it, then trudge through the specifications. For good regen you need a higher charge C rating.
- Batteries don't do regen power when fully charged. I just do not know whether/how a bank of capacitors would help with this.