Abstract
OBJECTIVE
This study focuses on key ultracapacitor products and provides data about the size and growth of the ultracapacitors markets, company profiles and industry trends. Also, the goal of this report is to provide a detailed and comprehensive multi-client study of the markets in North America, Europe, Japan, China, India, Korea and the rest of the world (ROW) for ultracapacitors as well as potential business opportunities in the future. The objectives include thorough coverage of underlying economic issues driving the ultracapacitors business, as well as assessments of new, advanced ultracapacitors that companies are developing. Also covered are legislative pressures for more safety and environmental protection, as well as users' expectations for economical ultracapacitors. Another important objective is to provide realistic market data and forecasts for ultracapacitors. This study provides the most thorough and up-to-date assessment that can be found anywhere on the subject. The study also provides extensive quantification of the many important facets of market development in ultracapacitors in the world. This, in turn, contributes to a determination of what kind of strategic response companies may adopt in order to compete in these dynamic markets.
Ultracapacitors users in developed markets must contend with twin pressures: to innovate and, at the same time, to reduce costs. New applications for ultracapacitors have been proposed in recent years. The popularity of these devices is due to their long cycle life and high power density relative to batteries. Ultracapacitors exhibit in principle unlimited cycle life and maintenance-free operation as an alternative to batteries in power
circuits. A new, promising application for ultracapacitors is a pulse-power source in fuel cell and hybrid vehicle applications. The pulse-power source provides the peak power during acceleration and stores regenerative energy during braking.
SCOPE AND FORMAT
The market data contained in this report quantify opportunities for ultracapacitors. In addition to product types, this report also covers the many issues concerning the merits and future prospects of the ultracapacitors business, including corporate strategies, information technologies, and the means for providing these highly advanced product and service offerings. This report also covers in detail the economic and technological issues regarded by many as critical to the industry' s current state of change. It provides a review of the ultracapacitors industry and its structure, and of the many companies involved in providing these products. The competitive positions of the main players in the ultracapacitors market and the strategic options they face are also discussed, along with such competitive factors as marketing, distribution and operations.
SUMMARY
Ultracapacitors or electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) fill an important and otherwise vacant niche in the current set of energy-storage devices, bridging the gap between batteries and conventional capacitors. They offer greater energy densities than do electrostatic capacitors, making them a better choice for backup applications. They also possess higher power densities than batteries, allowing them to perform a role in load-leveling of pulsed currents. They can help to improve battery performance when combined in hybrid power sources, or they can provide an efficient and long-lasting means of energy storage when used on their own. It must be realized, however, that the technology does have its limitations, and that applications requiring a long duration of discharge are probably better suites to batteries. If power requirements are found to be at the border of a battery' s capabilities, a hybrid EDLC/battery configuration may be an optimal solution. Advantage can then be gained from both the power density of the EDLC and the energy storage of the battery. This would seem to be the case in electric vehicles, which require power for acceleration in short bursts. The fast response time of EDLCs also makes them suitable for power-quality applications such as Statcons and DVRs. Power can quickly be injected or absorbed to help minimize voltage fluctuations in distribution systems.
information sources
Initially, a comprehensive and exhaustive search of the literature on ultracapacitors was conducted. These sources included the latest press releases on company websites including application news, company news, marketing news, product news, brochures, product literature, energy-storage magazines, technical journals, technical books, marketing literature, other promotional literature, annual reports, securities analysts' reports and other energy-storage business publications. There are very little data in the available literature that analyze ultracapacitors as a whole; and the data that do exist, for the most part, present ultracapacitors as part of general-purpose electric products. The challenge was to identify the ultracapacitors market and evaluate how it fits into the ultracapacitors user industry globally. An extensive patent analysis was conducted to gauge technological innovation and to determine research activity as it applies to new product development. The second phase involved formal and informal telephone interviews and e-mail correspondence with personnel in ultracapacitors. Suppliers, design engineers, consulting companies, other technical experts, government officials and trade- association officials were also interviewed, as were personnel in ultracapacitors user companies.
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS
- Ultracapacitors market growth will continue during 2006 to 2011. The $272 million (in US$) worldwide ultracapacitor business in 2006 will continue to grow at an AAGR of 15.3% through 2011
- In 2005, the global ultracapacitors market was estimated at US $238 million. This market is expected to grow to over US $272 million by 2006 and over US $560 million by 2011
- There are three major markets where ultracapacitors are needed, each having its own specific requirements. These are automotive, consumer electronics and industrial power management
- Ultracapacitors or electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) fill an important and otherwise vacant niche in the current set of energy-storage devices, bridging the gap between batteries and conventional capacitors.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
- STUDY GOAL AND OBJECTIVES
- REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY
- CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE STUDY
- SCOPE AND FORMAT
- METHODOLOGY
- INFORMATION SOURCES
- WHOM THE STUDY CATERS TO
- AUTHOR' S CREDENTIALS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL MARKET FOR ULTRACAPACITORS, BY APPLICATION THROUGH 2011
- SUMMARY FIGURE GLOBAL MARKET FOR ULTRACAPACITORS, BY APPLICATION
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
- BACKGROUND
- BACKGROUND (CONTINUED)
- BACKGROUND (CONTINUED)
- BACKGROUND (CONTINUED)
- TYPES AND APPLICATIONS
- TYPES AND APPLICATIONS (CONTINUED)
- TYPES AND APPLICATIONS (CONTINUED)
- TABLE 1 MARKET DOMAIN AND APPLICATIONS OF ULTRACAPACITORS
- MARKETS
- AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS
- Hybrid Drives
- Hybrid Drives (Continued)
- Transportation Applications
- Transportation Applications (Continued)
- Typical Applications in Automotive Systems
- Typical Applications in Automotive Systems (Continued)
- Hybrid Drives
- CONSUMER ELECTRONICS APPLICATIONS
- High Pulse-Power Applications
- Computer Electronics
- Computer Electronics (Continued)
- AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS
- INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS
- Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPSs)
- Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPSs) (Continued)
- Pitch Systems of Windmills
- Door and Slide Management Systems (DSMSs)
- Power Robotic Systems
- Automatic Meter Readers (AMRs)
- Ultracapacitor Packs
- Long-life Storage Applications
- Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPSs)
- MARKET SIZE AND SHARE
- TABLE 2 SUMMARY OF GLOBAL MARKET FOR ULTRACAPACITORS, BY APPLICATION THROUGH 2011
- FIGURE 1 SUMMARY OF GLOBAL MARKET FOR ULTRACAPACITORS, BY APPLICATION IN 2006 AND 2011
- TABLE 3 SUMMARY OF GLOBAL MARKET FOR ULTRACAPACITORS, BY REGION THROUGH 2011
- FIGURE 2 REGIONAL PERCENTAGES OF MARKET SHARE FOR ULTRACAPACITORS, 2006 AND 2011
- TABLE 2 SUMMARY OF GLOBAL MARKET FOR ULTRACAPACITORS, BY APPLICATION THROUGH 2011
ULTRACAPACITOR TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS
- DEFINITIONS
- DEFINITIONS (CONTINUED)
- DEFINITIONS (CONTINUED)
- DEFINITIONS (CONTINUED)
- DEFINITIONS (CONTINUED)
- DEFINITIONS (CONTINUED)
- ULTRACAPACITORS VS. LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES
- ULTRACAPACITORS VS. CAPACITORS
- TABLE 4 COMPARISON OF ULTRACAPACITOR AND BATTERY CHARACTERISTICS
- ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS OF ULTRACAPACITORS
- Advantages
- Limitations
- WORKING OF A TYPICAL SYMMETRIC EDLC (PURE EDLC USING AQUEOUS ELECTRIC
DOUBLE-LAYER CAPACITOR)
- TABLE 5 CURRENT MATERIALS USED IN ELECTRIC DOUBLE-LAYER CAPACITORS (EDLC) BY TECHNOLOGY 2006
- TABLE 5 CURRENT MATERIALS USED IN ELECTRIC DOUBLE-LAYER CAPACITORS (EDLC) BY TECHNOLOGY 2006 (CONTINUED)
- TABLE 5 CURRENT MATERIALS USED IN ELECTRIC DOUBLE-LAYER CAPACITORS (EDLC) BY TECHNOLOGY 2006 (CONTINUED)
- TABLE 5 CURRENT MATERIALS USED IN ELECTRIC DOUBLE-LAYER CAPACITORS (EDLC) BY TECHNOLOGY 2006 (CONTINUED)
- CURRENT MATERIALS FOR ULTRACAPACITORS
- CURRENT MATERIALS FOR ULTRACAPACITORS (CONTINUED)
- EMERGING MATERIALS: CARBON NANOTUBE ULTRACAPACITORS
- TABLE 6 EMERGING MATERIALS USED IN ELECTRIC DOUBLE-LAYER CAPACITORS (EDLCS)
- TYPICAL AVAILABLE SIZES OF ULTRACAPACITORS
- COMPACT TYPE
- TABLE 7 TYPICAL SIZES OF COMPACT ULTRACAPACITOR CELLS
- COIN TYPE
- TABLE 8 TYPICAL SIZES OF COIN ULTRACAPACITOR CELLS
- LARGE-SIZE MODULE
- TABLE 9 TYPICAL SIZES OF LARGE-SIZE MODULES OF ULTRACAPACITOR CELLS
- COMPACT TYPE
- QUALIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS OF ULTRA CAPACITORS FOR AUTOMOTIVE
APPLICATIONS AND OTHERS
- QUALIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS OF ULTRA CAPACITORS FOR AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS AND OTHERS (CONTINUED)
- INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
- INDUSTRY STRUCTURE (CONTINUED)
- MARKET PLAYERS
- TABLE 10 TOP FIVE MANUFACTURERS OF ULTRACAPACITORS IN 2006
- COMPANY
- TABLE 11 ULTRACAPACITOR PRODUCT LINE REFERENCE-2006
- TABLE 11 ULTRACAPACITOR PRODUCT LINE REFERENCE-2006 (CONTINUED)
- SUPPLIER OVERVIEW
- SUPPLIER OVERVIEW (CONTINUED)
- COMPETITIVE TRENDS
- COMPETITIVE TRENDS (CONTINUED)
- NEW ELECTRODES
- ELECTROLYTES AND LITHIUM IONS
- STRATEGIC ALLIANCES
- COMPETITION
- PARTNERSHIPS AND CONSOLIDATION
- TABLE 12 ACQUISITIONS AND MERGERS OF COMPANIES MANUFACTURING ULTRACAPACITORS DURING 1989 TO 2006
- TABLE 12 ACQUISITIONS AND MERGERS OF COMPANIES MANUFACTURING ULTRACAPACITORS DURING 1989 TO 2006 (CONTINUED)
- PATENTS AND PATENT ANALYSIS
- LIST OF PATENTS
- PATENT ANALYSIS
- PATENTS OF ELECTRIC DOUBLE-LAYER CAPACITORS (EDLCS)
- TABLE 13 NUMBER OF US PATENTS GRANTED TO COMPANIES IN THE ULTRACAPACITOR (EDLC) DESIGN CATEGORY FROM 2001 THROUGH 2005
- FIGURE 3 TOP COMPANIES IN TERMS OF US PATENTS GRANTED FOR ULTRACAPACITORS FROM 2001 THROUGH 2005
- ULTRACAPACITORS: U.S. PATENT ACTIVITY
- INTERNATIONAL OVERVIEW OF U.S. PATENT ACTIVITY IN ULTRACAPACITORS
- TABLE 14 NUMBER OF US PATENTS GRANTED BY ASSIGNED COUNTRY/REGION FOR ULTRACAPACITORS FROM JAN. 2001 TO DEC. 2005
- INTERNATIONAL OVERVIEW OF U.S. PATENT ACTIVITY IN ULTRACAPACITORS (CONTINUED)
COMPANY PROFILES
- ADVANCED CAPACITOR TECHNOLOGIES
- AVX CORPORATION
- AXION POWER
- BATSCAP
- CAP-XX USA, INC
- COOPER ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGIES
- ELIT CO.
- ELNA
- EPCOS AG
- ESMA
- EVANS CAPACITOR
- HOHSEN CORP.
- MAXWELL TECHNOLOGIES
- MAXWELL TECHNOLOGIES (CONTINUED)
- MAXWELL TECHNOLOGIES (CONTINUED)
- MIT LAB FOR ELECTROMAGNETIC AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS (LEES)
- NANOTECTURE LTD.
- NEC TOKIN AMERICA, INC.
- NESSCAP CO., LTD.
- NICHICON
- NISSHINBO INDUSTRIES, INC.,
- OMRON CORPORATION
- PANASONIC EV ENERGY CO., LTD
- SHIZUKI
- SKELETON NANOLAB
- TAVRIMA CANADA
- UNITED CHEMI-CON
- UNITED CHEMI-CON (CONTINUED)
LIST OF TABLES
SUMMARY TABLE:
- GLOBAL MARKET FOR ULTRACAPACITORS, BY APPLICATION THROUGH 2011
- TABLE 1 MARKET DOMAIN AND APPLICATIONS OF ULTRACAPACITORS
- TABLE 2 SUMMARY OF GLOBAL MARKET FOR ULTRACAPACITORS, BY APPLICATION THROUGH 2011
- TABLE 3 SUMMARY OF GLOBAL MARKET FOR ULTRACAPACITORS, BY REGION THROUGH 2011
- TABLE 4 COMPARISON OF ULTRACAPACITOR AND BATTERY CHARACTERISTICS
- TABLE 5 CURRENT MATERIALS USED IN ELECTRIC DOUBLE-LAYER CAPACITORS (EDLC) BY TECHNOLOGY 2006
- TABLE 5 CURRENT MATERIALS USED IN ELECTRIC DOUBLE-LAYER CAPACITORS (EDLC) BY TECHNOLOGY 2006 (CONTINUED)
- TABLE 5 CURRENT MATERIALS USED IN ELECTRIC DOUBLE-LAYER CAPACITORS (EDLC) BY TECHNOLOGY 2006 (CONTINUED)
- TABLE 5 CURRENT MATERIALS USED IN ELECTRIC DOUBLE-LAYER CAPACITORS (EDLC) BY TECHNOLOGY 2006 (CONTINUED)
- TABLE 6 EMERGING MATERIALS USED IN ELECTRIC DOUBLE-LAYER CAPACITORS (EDLCS)
- TABLE 7 TYPICAL SIZES OF COMPACT ULTRACAPACITOR CELLS
- TABLE 8 TYPICAL SIZES OF COIN ULTRACAPACITOR CELLS
- TABLE 9 TYPICAL SIZES OF LARGE-SIZE MODULES OF ULTRACAPACITOR CELLS
- TABLE 10 TOP FIVE MANUFACTURERS OF ULTRACAPACITORS IN 2006
- TABLE 11 ULTRACAPACITOR PRODUCT LINE REFERENCE-2006
- TABLE 11 ULTRACAPACITOR PRODUCT LINE REFERENCE-2006 (CONTINUED)
- TABLE 12 ACQUISITIONS AND MERGERS OF COMPANIES MANUFACTURING ULTRACAPACITORS DURING 1989 TO 2006
- TABLE 12 ACQUISITIONS AND MERGERS OF COMPANIES MANUFACTURING ULTRACAPACITORS DURING 1989 TO 2006 (CONTINUED)
- TABLE 13 NUMBER OF US PATENTS GRANTED TO COMPANIES IN THE ULTRACAPACITOR (EDLC) DESIGN CATEGORY FROM 2001 THROUGH 2005
- TABLE 14 NUMBER OF US PATENTS GRANTED BY ASSIGNED COUNTRY/REGION FOR ULTRACAPACITORS FROM JAN. 2001 TO DEC. 2005
LIST OF FIGURES
SUMMARY FIGURE:
- GLOBAL MARKET FOR ULTRACAPACITORS, BY APPLICATION
- FIGURE 1 SUMMARY OF GLOBAL MARKET FOR ULTRACAPACITORS, BY APPLICATION IN 2006 AND 2011
- FIGURE 2 REGIONAL PERCENTAGES OF MARKET SHARE FOR ULTRACAPACITORS, 2006 AND 2011
- FIGURE 3 TOP COMPANIES IN TERMS OF US PATENTS GRANTED FOR ULTRACAPACITORS FROM 2001 THROUGH 2005
