Quote:
Originally Posted by ConnClark
I'm not saying that replacing a battery with a cap might not reduce fuel consumption in some infinitesimal amount, but you will never be able to show it.
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There is likely an unmeasurable fuel savings by using Ultracaps instead of a conventional battery, but that's beside the point. The question in this thread asks if a battery can be replaced by a supercap. The answer is, yes.
Unicorns don't exist, but supercaps do, and they are capable of replacing a battery. I saved about 10lbs in weight by eliminating the battery in my motorcycle, which isn't much, but if you consider that the bike is only 400lbs, it's 2.5% of the total vehicle weight.
If I could eliminate the 2 enormous batteries in my diesel truck, I could save 80 lbs.
The advantages of eliminating the traditional battery extend beyond the tiny gains in electrical efficiency. We're also talking about weight reduction, better weight distribution (handling), longevity of the energy storage system, and long-term costs. The discussion isn't about perpetual motion or spontaneous creation of energy.