US firm wins patent for hybrid car capacitor technology

A company in the US has been granted a patent for a new technology which uses capacitors to augment the performance of hybrid car batteries.

AFS Trinity´s innovative technology allows capacitors to be used in conjunction with lithium ion batteries in order to deliver energy to power the car more easily than the battery would be able to do alone.

This would mean that electric cars would be able to accelerate faster without the risk of damaging the battery, as well as allowing cars to get by with smaller or fewer batteries, reports the New York Times.

AFS Trinity has already trialled its technology using a GM Saturn Vue Green Line, adding that it could easily be incorporated into any mid-size sports utility vehicle.

Edward Furia, the company´s chief executive, said it now hopes to licence the capacitor-based system to other automakers.

The Washington-based firm is also responsible for energy storage technology for stationary power systems and spacecraft.

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