Abstract: Described are a method and apparatus for charging an electric vehicle powered by ultracapacitors. The vehicle includes a current collector device for collecting power from an external power source, an electric motor module for providing a driving force to the vehicle, an ultracapacitor module, and a charger device. The ultracapacitor module includes one or more ultracapacitors. The ultracapacitor module is coupled to the current collector device for receiving power and is coupled to the electric motor module for providing power. The charger device is connected to the current collector, the ultracapacitor module, and to a temperature signal associated with one or more of the one or more ultracapacitors. The charger device is configured to adjust power supplied to the ultracapacitor module based on the temperature signal.

Abstract: A composite membrane for a capacitor, comprising: a carrier; a mixture of a catalytic material for catalyzing hydrogen and oxygen, and a dispersion resin. The catalytic material is selected from the group consisting of a precious metal in Group VIII of the periodic table of elements and their alloys, and a rare earth metal of the La group of rare earth metals and their alloys. The carrier is a film formed by at least one of the following: polypropylene, polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene and polyamide. The carrier can include asbestos fibers, polypropylene fibers, or their mixture. The dispersion resin can be one of the following: ethylene, Nafion™, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene, CMC, and the like. The present disclosure also provides a method for making a composite membrane, and a capacitor with the composite membrane.

Abstract: Described are a method and apparatus for charging an electric vehicle powered by ultracapacitors. The vehicle includes a current collector device for collecting power from an external power source, an electric motor module for providing a driving force to the vehicle, an ultracapacitor module, and a charger device. The ultracapacitor module includes one or more ultracapacitors. The ultracapacitor module is coupled to the current collector device for receiving power and is coupled to the electric motor module for providing power. The charger device is connected to the current collector, the ultracapacitor module, and to a temperature signal associated with one or more of the one or more ultracapacitors. The charger device is configured to adjust power supplied to the ultracapacitor module based on the temperature signal.

Abstract: A composite membrane for a capacitor, comprising: a carrier; a mixture of a catalytic material for catalyzing hydrogen and oxygen, and a dispersion resin. The catalytic material is selected from the group consisting of a precious metal in Group VIII of the periodic table of elements and their alloys, and a rare earth metal of the La group of rare earth metals and their alloys. The carrier is a film formed by at least one of the following: polypropylene, polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene and polyamide. The carrier can include asbestos fibers, polypropylene fibers, or their mixture. The dispersion resin can be one of the following: ethylene, Nafion™, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene, CMC, and the like. The present disclosure also provides a method for making a composite membrane, and a capacitor with the composite membrane.