A supercapacitor basically bridges the gap between electrolytic capacitors and rechargeable batteries, normally storing up to 100 times more energy per unit volume or mass than electrolytic capacitors, while also being able to accept as well as deliver charge much faster than batteries. Inventor Tom Stanton wanted to see what a super capacitor-powered bicycle would be capable of, but had to find a way around their rapid voltage drop during discharge when compared to batteries. Read more for the video and additional information.
Tom found a way around the issue by building an axial flux motor using 3D printed formers for the coils and an aluminum rotor with embedded magnets. Unfortunately, this limits the torque, so a large sprocket had to be machined for the rear wheel. The capacitor bank itself consists of six 2.7V 400F supercaps, or the capacity equivalent of a single AA cell, limiting its range to under a mile at low speeds. He also found a solution to add regenerative braking to this supercapacitor setup by installing the six 2.7V 400F supercars on a different e-bike that had the feature.
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