Mercedes to use Maxwell Tech ultracapacitors

San Diego's Maxwell Technologies (Nasdaq: MXWL), an energy storage and power delivery products maker, said today that it signed a contract to design and produce ultracapacitors for Mercedes Car Group.

Maxwell said the ultracapacitors will be used in Mercedes' advanced engineering hybrid-electric drive train program, incorporating a braking energy recuperation system.

"Mercedes-Benz is a global automotive technology leader, so working more closely with its research and development organization will give us the opportunity to demonstrate Maxwell's capabilities as a supplier for future series production programs," said David Schramm, Maxwell's president and CEO.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Maxwell said the contract covers funding to develop a new Boostcap ultracapacitor cell specifically designed to meet the energy storage and power delivery requirements of one of Mercedes' torque assist and recuperative braking systems.

Maxwell said it's also working with automotive and heavy transportation OEMs as well as Tier 1 suppliers worldwide to design and develop ultracapacitor-based energy storage and power delivery solutions for electrical subsystem applications.

In March, the company introduced a 390-volt Boostcap Heavy Duty Transportation ultracapacitor for hybrid and electric vehicles and heavy duty industrial applications (see Maxwell introduces bigger ultracapacitor for hybrids/EVs).

"We continue to focus on establishing Maxwell as the leading and lowest-cost producer of ultracapacitor products and aligning ourselves with innovative OEMs and system integrators to achieve the broadest possible penetration of these key strategic markets," said Schramm.

In addition to ultracapacitors, the company's electronic components unit also makes radiation-shielded microelectronics and power storage systems.

Cleantech developments making news in the past 24 hours

• Generating energy underwater from good vibrations
• Indian companies order 300MW in wind power
• Beijing meets "blue sky days" target early
• Finland, Vietnam launch fish fuel project

View the last week of cleantech developments here | Subscribe to full feed