New Battery Power Alternative a Breakthrough for IoT

Since their invention, batteries of many shapes and forms have been a ground-breaking discovery, used everywhere from phones and household appliances to sizeable vehicles.

Often, they are the go-to power solution in the development of new gadgets for their ease of use, durability and convenience but in a few years’ time they could be replaced by a new power solution advancement.

A supercapacitor, as it is known, is a scientifically-developed alternative to battery power that promises to be more efficient, faster, safer and greener. They are not new in a wider context but it is a new development within the field and means that supercapacitors can now have an extremely high density of energy stored within them. This is formed through a 3D network of organic molecules acting as a base for new polymers. The technology adapts a method used for the production of soft contact lenses, where many sub-units are packed together exceptionally closely. The technique is said to make the supercapacitors a 1,000 to 10,000 times more powerful than batteries.

With the power charge reaching the evaluated numbers, the supercapacitors would mean that smartphones and laptops could be fully charged in only a matter of seconds. The development is huge for electric cars, which previously only had enough power to last 6-8 hours (with lengthy periods of charging), but could now match the performance time of petrol cars.

One of the predicted effects is the positive impact within energy generation, IoT and aerospace industries, which have been in a great need for powerful compact electricity solutions. The solution would mean more accessibility to IoT devices and better conditions under which to bring out new products. The idea is further supported by Elon Musk, who expressed his faith in supercapacitors as being the future for electric air transportation, when the time comes.

To date they have been successfully used in buses in China but with varying results. They need recharging every 2-3 stops and would need many enhancements before becoming a viable option in other areas. The developers are now keen to pursue this technology further here in the UK and plan a UK based factory for this very reason, with an estimated investment of £25m.

Dashboard has been recognising the potential of IoT since the very start and have actively encouraged any related technological advancements. To finally see the light dawning on something that has been such a problematic area for so long is very promising and we are enthusiastic to see how the new supercapacitors progress.