EnerG2 raises prospect of greener hybrids with ultracapacitor nanotech

Ultracapacitor technology start up EnerG2 has emerged from stealth mode this week with $8.5m (£5.7m) in funding, according to reports.

The company scored $8.5m in Series A capital from OVP Venture Partners and Firelake Capital Management last month, and is working on nanotechnology that will create new materials for use in products including ultracapacitors.

Ultracapacitors are energy storage systems that don't use conventional battery chemistry to store and release power. They can discharge their power rapidly to produce short-lived, high bursts of energy, but typically they cannot store as much as regular batteries. This has made them suitable for storing and releasing braking power for regenerative braking hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, for example.

EnerG2 is working on three primary products: synthetic carbon powders, synthetic carbon monoliths, and nanocomposites for solid state hydrogen storage.

Its technology is fundamentally different from existing manufacturing processes, it says, because it uses molecular assembly techniques to customise its products' properties. It claims that in contrast most other manufacturing processes begin with natural materials with characteristics that the vendors have to work around.

In the future, it also hopes to use its technology in conventional lithium-ion batteries, along with hydrogen and methane storage.

EnerG2 failed to return calls to the contact number on the website, or to the chief operating officer's home yesterday.