Last checked at 3 Apr 2013 07:00
April 3, 2013
CAP-XX Limited
CAP-XX Stop-Start Automotive Supercapacitor Module successfully completes in vehicle trial with Club Assist, a leading worldwide provider of roadside breakdown assistance support for motoring clubs
CAP-XX is pleased to announce that its supercapacitor module for use in automotive applications has successfully completed "in-vehicle" Stop-Start trials with Club Assist, the world's largest mobile retailer of automotive batteries, serving more than 68 roadside breakdown services across three continents. The automotive market represents an important market opportunity for CAP-XX, as vehicle manufacturers increasingly adopt Stop-Start and Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems to reduce vehicle emissions and improve fuel efficiency.
The CAP-XX supercapacitor module was installed in a Club Assist 2.5L petrol Nissan X-trail vehicle which travelled a total of 2,750 kilometres in 42 days from Adelaide in South Australia to Melbourne in Victoria (return). The vehicle also travelled to several country locations in South Australia, testing the module under a full range of operating conditions, including hot climate environments, long-distance highway cycles, and urban Stop Start conditions, which replicate "real world" driver experiences.
During the journey, the CAP-XX supercapacitor module provided over 500 starts without fault, even though the vehicle had no battery connected to the starter motor. In one "flat battery" cranking simulation, the supercapacitor module achieved 8 sequential starts without a re-charge. The X-Trail was equipped with data capture instruments to enable live capture of start performance, charge capacity and charge time. The supercapacitor module accepted a full re-charge in less than 8 seconds.
CAP-XX's supercapacitor module removes the dependence of Stop-Start systems on the vehicle's battery, and supplies cranking current directly to the starter motor. Extended testing has shown that the CAP-XX module reduces wear on the battery and extends operating life, addressing two of the most common failings of existing systems. Batteries in many existing Stop-Start systems may have a functional life of as little as 18 months because of the intensive demands made on the battery by repeated cranking. As an additional benefit, the CAP-XX module provides superior engine starting performance in cold weather, and can be used as an energy storage unit for regenerative braking systems where fitted.
Last year CAP-XX announced that its Stop-Start module had completed more than 100,000 cycles under the New European Drive Cycle standard with minimal wear on battery performance, and that it was seeking partnerships with Tier-1 automotive component suppliers to commercialise its technology globally.
Alan Bradshaw, Vice President, Product and Technical Development with Club Assist said:
"As we strive to continuously improve Club Assist's product and service offerings to our global motoring club partners, we are impressed by the results of our initial evaluation of CAP-XX's supercapacitor-enhanced stop-start system, which we will continue to evaluate."
Anthony Kongats, CAP-XX Chief Executive said:
"We are delighted with the results of Club Assist's "in-vehicle" trial, which builds on the validation of our own extended Stop-Start tests, demonstrating the performance advantages available from a supercapacitor-enhanced Automotive battery systems. We believe that the automotive sector provides a significant additional market opportunity for CAP-XX."
For further information, please contact
| CAP-XX Limited Anthony Kongats (Chief Executive Officer)
| +61 (0) 2 9428 0139 |
Seymour Pierce Rick Thompson and Catherine Leftley (Corporate Finance) David Banks and Paul Jewell (Corporate Broking)
| +44 (0) 20 7894 7000
|
Kreab Gavin Anderson & Company Robert Speed (Financial PR)
| +44 (0) 20 7074 1800 |
Club Assist Doragnes Bradshaw, (Corporate Communications Manager)
| +61 (0) 3 9797 8632 |
Notes to Editors:
About CAP-XX
CAP-XX is a world leader in the design and manufacture of thin form prismatic supercapacitors and energy management systems for portable and small scale electronic devices and automotive applications.
The unique feature of CAP-XX's supercapacitors is their ability to store high volumes of energy and output high power levels within a thin prismatic design. These attributes are critical for power-hungry electronic devices and applications.
About Club Assist
Club Assist partners with trusted motoring club organizations worldwide, improving member experiences through the provision of automotive battery supply and roadside replacement, automotive glass repair and replacement, roadside assistance and other related-member services. It is the largest mobile automotive battery retailer in the world, serving more than 68 automotive club partners across the globe.