Experimental Considerations on the Battery Lifetime of a Hybrid Power Source Made of Ultracapacitors and Lead-Acid Batteries

A study was designed to investigate the potential benefits that ultracapacitors (UCs) may provide on the lifetime of lead-acid batteries. An experimental setup allowed the comparative cycling of two packs designed for a hybrid electric heavy-duty vehicle. Spectroscopy plots, charging current acceptability, and capacity tests were used to track the batteries' degradation. The lifetime of the batteries was improved significantly as a result of the association of UCs.