Abstract: A hybrid power module is provided. The power module is associated with a truck having a lift gate. The power module includes a super capacitor comprising a bank of capacitors, with the super capacitor being in electrical communication with an alternator of the truck. The power module also includes a battery, a switch, a DC/DC boost converter, and electrical wiring. The electrical wiring connects the capacitor bank and first battery to the switch, and further connects the switch to a motor for the lift gate. The super capacitor and the first battery are positioned in parallel, with the super capacitor and the first battery residing proximate the lift gate. The super capacitor contains enough energy to power the electric motor for the lift gate through at least two operating cycles without the battery, protecting the lift gate if the battery goes weak.

Abstract: A starting module for a vehicle is provided. The starting module is configured to reside on-board the vehicle, and is used to start an engine associated with the vehicle in the event the battery on the vehicle is too weak to crank the engine. The engine starting module first comprises a housing. The housing resides proximate the vehicle battery and holds a plurality of super capacitors. The super capacitors reside within the housing, are configured in series, and are electrically in parallel with the vehicle battery. The super capacitors store charge received from the electrical system of the vehicle. The starting module also includes control logic. The control logic controls the discharge of stored energy from the super capacitors. The engine starting module also comprises an isolation switch, configured to move between open and close positions in response to signals from the control logic in order to restore charge to the battery as needed.

Abstract: A portable hybrid power module is provided. The power module represents a combined capacitor and battery residing together in a single housing. The battery is preferably a 12 volt DC gel cell battery while the capacitor is an ultra-capacitor residing in parallel with the battery. The ultra-capacitor may be a series of 6 to 12 super capacitors residing in series, with each super capacitor providing 2.5 volts DC charge. The hybrid power module is configured to provide a charge to start an external portable device. The device may be an all-terrain vehicle, a personal water craft, a generator set, or a vehicle. The power module includes a first device terminal and a second device terminal for establishing electrical communication with a battery of the external portable device.

Abstract: A hybrid power module is provided. The power module is associated with a truck having a lift gate. The power module includes a super capacitor comprising a bank of capacitors, with the super capacitor being in electrical communication with an alternator of the truck. The power module also includes a battery, a switch, a DC/DC boost converter, and electrical wiring. The electrical wiring connects the capacitor bank and first battery to the switch, and further connects the switch to a motor for the lift gate. The super capacitor and the first battery are positioned in parallel, with the super capacitor and the first battery residing proximate the lift gate. The super capacitor contains enough energy to power the electric motor for the lift gate through at least two operating cycles without the battery, protecting the lift gate if the battery goes weak.

Abstract: A power generation system for a mobile device. The power generation system includes a combustion engine. The combustion engine serves as a power generator for the mobile device, with the combustion engine being located on a trailer. The power generation system also includes a power module. The power module comprises both an ultra-capacitor and a lithium-based battery; Preferably, the ultra-capacitor comprises a series, or bank, of super capacitors. Likewise, the battery comprises a series of lithium batteries. Preferably, the super capacitors are in electrical communication with an alternator of a truck. The power module provides power to start the combustion engine used to drive the mobile device. The mobile device may be a refrigeration system, or may be heaters, blowers, lights or other electrical items that may be carried on the trailer.

Abstract: A starting module for a vehicle is provided. The starting module is configured to reside on-board the vehicle, and is used to start an engine associated with the vehicle in the event the battery on the vehicle is too weak to crank the engine. The engine starting module first comprises a housing. The housing resides proximate the vehicle battery and holds a plurality of super capacitors. The super capacitors reside within the housing, in series, and are electrically in parallel with the vehicle battery. The super capacitors store charge received from the electrical system of the vehicle. The starting module also includes control logic. The control logic controls the release of energy from the super capacitors. The engine starting module also comprises an isolation switch, which is configured to move between open and close positions in response to signals from the control logic.

Abstract: A power generation system for a mobile device. The power generation system includes a combustion engine. The combustion engine serves as a power generator for the mobile device, with the combustion engine being located on a trailer. The power generation system also includes a power module. The power module comprises both an ultra-capacitor and a lithium-based battery; Preferably, the ultra-capacitor comprises a series, or bank, of super capacitors. Likewise, the battery comprises a series of lithium batteries. Preferably, the super capacitors are in electrical communication with an alternator of a truck. The power module provides power to start the combustion engine used to drive the mobile device. The mobile device may be a refrigeration system, or may be heaters, blowers, lights or other electrical items that may be carried on the trailer.

Abstract: An Engine Start and Battery Support Module for a vehicle is provided that utilizes a bank of Ultra Capacitors (UCs) charged with or without running the vehicle's alternator to levels that support both engine starting assistance and hotel load support. The UCs' per-cell charge can be adjusted and raised during periods of low temperatures and even higher during ultralow temperatures. The adjustment, which can be dynamic and/or automatic, increases the UC energy storage capability. Further, the release of energy from the UCs is controlled by a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller based on the DC bus voltage. The UCs can be charged either from an onboard DC/DC converter, an AC hook up, or from smartly switching the banks of UCs between parallel and serial configurations.

Abstract: An Engine Start and Battery Support Module for a vehicle is provided that utilizes a bank of Ultra Capacitors (UCs) charged with or without running the vehicle's alternator to levels that support both engine starting assistance and hotel load support. The UCs' per-cell charge can be adjusted and raised during periods of low temperatures and even higher during ultralow temperatures. The adjustment, which can be dynamic and/or automatic, increases the UC energy storage capability. Further, the release of energy from the UCs is controlled by a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller based on the DC bus voltage. The UCs can be charged either from an onboard DC/DC converter, an AC hook up, or from smartly switching the banks of UCs between parallel and serial configurations.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods are disclosed for operating a system comprising an energy storage device electrically couplable to an external device with a first terminal and a second terminal and a switch device disposed between the energy storage device and the first terminal and/or the second terminal such that actuating the switch device either disconnects the energy storage device from the first terminal and/or the second terminal so as to prevent at least one of discharging energy from the energy storage device to the external device and charging the energy storage device with energy from the external device, or connects the energy storage device to the first terminal and the second terminal so as to allow at least one of supplying energy to the external device from the energy storage device and charging the energy storage device with energy from the external device.

Abstract: An Engine Start and Battery Support Module for a vehicle is provided that utilizes a bank of Ultra Capacitors (UCs) charged with or without running the vehicle's alternator to levels that support both engine starting assistance and hotel load support. The UCs' per-cell charge can be adjured and raided during periods of low temperatures and even higher during ultralow temperatures. The adjustment, which can be dynamic and/or automatic, increases the UC energy storage capability. Further, the release of energy from the UCs is controlled by a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller based on the DC bus voltage. The UCs can be charged either from an onboard DC/DC converter, an AC hook up, or from smartly switching the banks of UCs between parallel and serial configurations.

Abstract: An Engine Start and Battery Support Module (or a vehicle is provided that utilizes a bank of Ultra Capacitors (UCs) charged with or without running the vehicle's alternator to levels that support both engine starting assistance and hotel load support. The UCs' per-cell charge can be adjured and raided during periods of low temperatures and even higher during ultralow temperatures. The adjustment, which can be dynamic and/or automatic, increases the UC energy storage capability. Further, the release of energy from the UCs is controlled by a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller based on the DC bus voltage. The UCs can be charged either from an onboard DC/DC converter, an AC hook up, or from smartly switching the banks of UCs between parallel and serial configurations.

Abstract: A composition comprising an electrode or an electrical double-layer capacitor with dielectric material is disclosed, along with methods of making the composition. The present invention improves upon state-of-the-art electrodes and capacitors by coating a material of high dielectric constant onto the surface of the electrode to produce improved electrical properties. The composition is particularly useful for design of novel electrical double-layer capacitors.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a system includes a battery and a capacitor bank. The battery is electrically coupled to a load device and is configured to supply power to the load device when the system is in a first configuration. The system is in the first configuration when a current requirement of the load device is less than a current threshold. The capacitor bank includes a plurality of capacitors and is electrically coupled to the battery when the system is in a second configuration. The battery and the capacitor bank are configured to collectively provide power to the load device when the system is in the second configuration. The system is in the second configuration when the current requirement of the load device is greater than the current threshold.