A supercapacitor (SC), sometimes ultracapacitor, formerly electric double-layer capacitor (EDLC) is a high-capacity electrochemical element that accumulates energy by polarizing electrolyte. However, no chemical react happens in the reversible energy storage process. Consumer electronics have developed into a relatively mature application for supercapacitor, while transportation (new energy vehicles, rail transit, heavy construction machinery, etc.) and new energy enjoy greater potential.
The global supercapacitor market size was recorded at roughly $3.8 billion in 2014, with an expected CAGR of 21.3 percent or so for the next few years (2014-2019). Supercapacitor in China started relatively late featuring undeveloped technology and small scale, with market demand more dependent on import. It is expected that China's supercapacitor market size may hit RMB2.86 billion in 2014, accounting for 12.1 percent of the global market over the corresponding period. The supercapacitor products of U.S.-based Maxwell, Japan-based Panasonic and NEC once gained more than 90% market share in China.
However, Chinese enterprises are continuously improving their level of technical research stimulated by a number of favorable policies and seeing shares rise to 40 percent. They are playing important roles with high technologies, especially in the field of supercapacitor bus and rail transit.
Although China's new energy vehicle power system still gives priority to LiFePO4 battery and Ni-MH battery, supercapacitor has developed part of the new energy automobile market there. According to the research and information released by the New Energy Vehicle Power Battery Industry Development Laboratory, China has produced power batteries for 129,315 various energy saving and new energy vehicles as of July 2014, of which, vehicles equipped with supercapacitor represent about 12.4 percent. In terms of installation statistics, over 60 percent of supercapacitors are still dependent on products of Maxwell, LSMtron and other foreign companies.
