This easy and affordable add-on assists aging batteries by delivering 700 amps of current to help start your car. We tested it in freezing Michigan weather to see how well it works.
Lead-acid batteries have a cruel sense of humor, often deciding to quit precisely when the mercury drops and you're already running late. So, when we heard of a new product aimed at addressing this very issue—the Ancel BS200 Super Starter—we knew we had to test it.
The Ancel BS200 Super Starter is a supercapacitor-powered device that lives directly inside your engine bay and, in theory, keeps your engine turning over with every twist of the key . Instead of a portable jump pack that lives in your glovebox , the BS200 stays connected directly to your battery terminals. It acts as a dedicated power reservoir, using a supercapacitor to shoulder the heavy electrical load of ignition so your aging lead-acid battery doesn't have to.The Supercapacitor Difference To understand the difference between this supercapacitor and a standard lithium-ion jump starter, which we've reviewed in-depth in our Best Portable Jump Starters test, you have to look at the trade-off between energy density and power density. Lithium-ion packs are like deep reservoirs; they hold far more total energy , making them great for charging phones or for multiple jump attempts. However, they rely on chemical reactions that become sluggish in the cold, increasing internal resistance and choking their output.A supercapacitor, like the one in the BS200, stores energy differently, with no chemical reaction, which allows it to dump its entire reserve into a massive current burst almost instantly. Its output is also much more stable across a range of temperatures. So, while it may lack the versatility of a lithium bank, the trade-off is reliability in more extreme environments. Getting TechnicalUnder the hood, Ancel built the BS200 to survive environments a traditional lithium jump starter would underperform in. It's rated to operate in temperatures ranging from –40 to 176 degrees Fahrenheit and can withstand 100,000 charge/discharge cycles without failure, according to Ancel. The Ancel holds a paltry 2.3 watt-hours of energy—a lithium-ion jump pack typically holds 10 times as much—but it delivers a peak discharge current of 700 amps, which is substantial enough to wake up most 12-volt passenger vehicles. It handles its own charging automatically by drawing from the vehicle's alternator or battery and offers a manual USB-C port for precharging via a power bank if the car battery is completely flat. Connectivity is handled via Bluetooth 5.3, linking the hardware to a companion app for monitoring .Ancel claims that installing this unit to a new battery can extend its life up to three years. But supercapacitors also tend to self-discharge at a much higher rate than lithium-ion batteries; that means, if you leave your vehicle parked for long periods of time, this device will likely be less effective.Installation and PerformanceAfter giving the unit an initial charge via the integrated USB-C port, I bolted the BS200 into my 2009 Honda Fit Sport . Installation was straightforward in my case and should be simple on most any vehicle. Simply secure the U-shaped terminals to the battery posts, secure the unit inside the engine bay via included zip ties, and you're good to go.The real test has been the past two or three weeks here in Lansing, during a stretch of subzero Michigan winter weather. In conditions where my lead-acid battery typically loses significant cranking amps and has historically struggled at times, the BS200's supportive backup has led to eventless startups . Based on the data provided in the app, it's clear the capacitor does its job, dropping its charge instantaneously, effectively masking the weakness of my car's primary battery.The Connected ExperienceThe accompanying app is surprisingly polished for this segment. It avoids the clunky feel of many automotive accessories and offers a clean interface that separates the State of Charge and voltage for both the Super Starter and the vehicle battery. It tracks historical data, logging voltage fluctuations and startup currents, which allows me to spot trends in my electrical system's health. If parameters drift out of spec, the app pushes maintenance alerts, adding a layer of preventative intelligence to the setup. Is It Worth It? The Ancel BS200 is a set-it-and-forget-it solution for anyone tired of 'will it start?' anxiety. It lacks the multipurpose utility of a portable lithium bank, but it follows the adage of 'do one thing well.' In this case: ensuring ignition in nearly any weather. For drivers dealing with harsh winters or older vehicles, this is a logical upgrade that could be worth it, especially if you can get it on sale. On the other hand, depending on your vehicle, it may cost nearly as much as buying a brand-new lead-acid battery. The choice is yours—but my Fit and I feel better knowing it's there.
Parts-Accessories Cold Starts Jump Starter
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