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A structural supercapacitor is designed to do two jobs in one composite: carry mechanical loads and store electrical energy. In a 2014 research demonstration, a team made a full-size car boot lid from such a material and used it to power LEDs. That was a prototype, not evidence of a production vehicle or a product available to buy.
What is a structural supercapacitor?
Unlike a conventional capacitor fitted to a vehicle panel, a structural supercapacitor is intended to make the panel itself part of the energy-storage device. The composite must retain enough mechanical strength and stiffness to support loads while also enabling ions to move and electrical charge to be stored.
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The idea is to combine functions that are usually assigned to separate components. A load-bearing panel could also store energy, but the material has to meet structural and electrochemical requirements at the same time.
How did the car-panel prototype work?
The 2014 report describes a composite based on activated carbon fibres. The researchers sought to pair the strength and stiffness of structural carbon fibres with the surface area and ionic access needed for supercapacitor operation.
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Porous carbon increased the active surface
The team formed porous carbon aerogel around the fibres to increase their surface area. Chemistry World reported that this raised surface area and specific capacitance by three orders of magnitude. That figure is the result reported in the 2014 account; it is not a general performance figure for structural supercapacitors. The report also noted additional mechanical-property benefits. Chemistry World’s 27 June 2014 report describes the material and its reported results.
The electrolyte combined resin and ionic liquid
The electrolyte presented a central design challenge: it needed to contribute mechanical performance while allowing ions to conduct. The reported solution was a bicontinuous structure combining epoxy resin for mechanical properties with an ionic liquid for ionic conduction. Researcher Milo Shaffer described these requirements as “two intrinsically inverse concepts.”
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- High Capacity & Voltage: This 16.2V 1.6.7F super capacitor module delivers reliable power with a 1.67 Farad capacity and Max 16V voltage range, making it a versatile supercapacitor for various applications.
- Safe & Easy High Current Discharge: Designed for safe and easy use, this super farad capacitor offers high current discharge capabilities, perfect for demanding power needs.
- Low Internal Resistance: Featuring an internal series structure, this ultracapacitor boasts low internal resistance and high energy, ensuring efficient power delivery in a compact package.
- Wide Range of Applications: Ideal backup power supply for CMOS, RAM, VCR, radios, TVs, smart meters, LED flashlights, motors, industrial UPS, and more. A reliable DC-link capacitor option.
- Compact Size: Measuring just 6.5x3.0x1.3cm, this bonded single capacitor supercapacitor module is compact and easy to integrate into your projects.
Can a car body store electricity?
The reported demonstration shows that a car component can be made from a material intended to provide both structural support and energy storage: the team formed a full-size boot lid and used it to power LEDs. It does not establish that the lid was installed in a production vehicle, that it could meet automotive safety or durability requirements, or that such components are commercially available today.
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The underlying study is Shirshova et al., “Multifunctional Structural Energy Storage Composite Supercapacitors,” published in Faraday Discussions. The Royal Society of Chemistry’s 2 July 2014 post identifies the paper and demonstration: RSC Faraday Discussions Blog. The paper’s DOI is 10.1039/C4FD00055B.
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- POWER ENHANCEMENT & FUEL SAVING: This capacitor can effectively enhance the power of your car and save fuel at the same time, which will make your driving experience to a higher level.
- Improve the sound quality of your car: Provide stable power for your car audio system, help to improve the sound quality and enjoy a better driving trip.
- Energy saving and environmental protection to reduce emissions: contribute to environmental protection, effectively reduce the energy consumption of the car and exhaust emissions.
- Quick installation for automobile: specially designed for automobile, easy and quick installation, easy to improve your car performance.
- Extend battery life: stable current can effectively extend battery life and reduce the trouble of frequent battery replacement.
What was the performance trade-off?
Combining load-bearing ability with energy storage does not automatically match the performance of a dedicated energy-storage device. Chemistry World reported that the material’s power density was lower than that of state-of-the-art supercapacitors at the time. The 2014 sources do not provide newer comparative measurements, so that historical comparison should not be read as a present-day ranking.
The design challenge is therefore a balance: improving ionic conduction and electrochemical performance without undermining the mechanical properties the composite is meant to provide. The cited reports describe research progress toward that balance, not a finished automotive solution.
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- Supercapacitor UPS for Fast Charge & Long Cycle Life: Built with a 25F supercapacitor bank, this UPS board charges quickly and is designed for frequent charge-discharge use. It is a practical backup power solution for systems that need short-term ride-through instead of long battery runtime
- Backup Power for Safe Save and Shutdown: When external power is lost, the board can provide about 15-110 seconds of backup time depending on load, helping devices compatible with Raspberry Pi complete data saving and controlled shutdown to reduce sudden power-loss risks
- 3.3V Power Loss Detection Output: The onboard detection header outputs 3.3V logic when external power is present and switches to 0V after power loss, allowing the host controller to monitor power status and trigger protection logic
- Multiple 5V Outputs with High Peak Capability: The board provides 5V output through USB Type-A, terminal block, and pin header. With external power connected and the supercapacitors fully charged, it supports up to 5V/5A peak output; with fully charged capacitors only, it can provide stable 5V/3A output
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- 1. Reduce the starting time of the car, reduce idle jitter and make it more stable.
- 2. Increase engine power to make throttle response lighter and more sensitive.
- 3. Reduce clutter distortion and improve sound quality of vehicle audio system.
- 4. Protect the battery and the circuit of the original vehicle, reduce the load and prolong the service life.
- 5.Automotive Capacitor 16V 83F Electronic Rectifier with Protection Board Voltage Regulator Rectifier Battery Accessories
What the demonstration does—and does not—show
- It shows: a research team reported a structural composite boot lid capable of powering LEDs, using activated carbon fibres, porous carbon aerogel, and an epoxy/ionic-liquid electrolyte.
- It does not establish: production-vehicle use, commercial availability, current manufacturing readiness, or performance against present-day products.
- Its significance: it illustrates a materials approach in which a component could combine load-bearing and energy-storage roles, subject to the trade-offs between mechanical integrity and electrochemical performance.
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