Demand for Supercapacitors Expected to Surge

BOSTON, MA, Jun 10 (MARKET WIRE) --
While Li-ion batteries temporarily dampened enthusiasm for
capacitor-based storage, demand for power-hungry applications has sparked
a resurgence of interest in supercapacitors. The overall market is
expected to expand from $208 million last year, to an $877 million market
in 2014, according to a new report from Lux Research.

Signifying a CAGR of 27%, that spells opportunities for both current and
future players in the supercapacitor market, and for investors as well.
But the Lux report, entitled "Bridging the Gap with Supercapacitors: a
Tale of Two Markets," reveals a few caveats on how best to approach those
opportunities.

"Our analysis revealed something that has largely been ignored so far,"
said Jacob Grose, a Lux analyst and lead author of the report. "Namely,
that the supercapacitor market is divided between two sub-segments: large
multinational players are going after electronic applications, while the
pure-plays are targeting large-size storage applications."

Lux's report is divided as well. Its first section explains the basic
technologies enabling supercapacitors, and what properties make these
devices attractive. The second half explores opportunities in each of the
markets' sectors, including their potential size and growth, and how
individual companies are poised to capitalize.

Incumbent supercapacitor players will find the report offers comparative
analysis of future growth opportunities for each sub-segment, while
companies arriving late to the game will learn what technologies offer
appealing entry points to the market. Prospective investors will also find
insights into which individual companies are best positioned to compete in
their respective sectors.

The report derives its intelligence, in part, from interviews with 19
supercapacitor manufacturers and four application developers in different
application areas. Among its key conclusions:

-- Cell phones and digital cameras will drive adoption in electronics.
Multimedia cell phones and autofocus cameras both impose high pulse power
demands that batteries and conventional capacitors are poorly equipped to
provide. This will spark supercapacitor growth in consumer electronics from
$122 million in 2008 to over $550 million in 2014.

-- Transportation will drive large supercapacitor applications. It takes
a lot of power to get a large bus or truck moving, which will fuel demand
for most large supercapacitor applications. Wind turbines are another key
opportunity, although relatively high supercapacitor prices will limit
adoption rate. Overall, large storage applications are expected to expand
from $86 million last year, to over $320 million in 2014.

-- Commoditization of carbon-based supercapacitors will give large
players an edge. Carbon-based supercapacitors -- which will define the
market for the foreseeable future -- are a relatively undifferentiated
technology composed of base materials in very price sensitive markets. That
creates a textbook case for commoditization, wherein high volumes will help
to lower costs, and allow large players to gain more market share.

"As volumes increase, we expect large players including Panasonic,
NEC - Tokin, and Maxwell Technologies to benefit most from economies of
scale," said Grose. "As that trend unfolds, the market may see more
diversification as large companies bolster their portfolios through
acquisitions of smaller firms."

"Bridging the Gap with Supercapacitors: a Tale of Two Markets," is part of
Lux Research's Alternative Power and Energy Storage Intelligence service.
Clients subscribing to this service receive continuous research on the
industry, as well as market trends and forecasts, ongoing technology
scouting reports, and proprietary data points in the weekly Lux Research
Alternative Power and Energy Storage Journal, and on-demand inquiry with
Lux Research analysts.

About Lux Research

Lux Research provides strategic advice and on-going intelligence for
emerging technologies. Leaders in business, finance and government rely on
us to help them make informed strategic decisions. Through our unique
research approach focused on primary research and our extensive global
network, we deliver insight, connections and competitive advantage to our
clients. Visit www.luxresearchinc.com for more information.

Contact:
Carole Jacques
Lux Research, Inc.
617-502-5314
carole.jacques@luxresearchinc.com

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