Supercapacitors and hybrids can be paired with batteries to optimize energy storage in a variety of electronic applications. When used in-parallel with batteries, they offer a low-cost solution, although the supercap itself is not optimized with the energy usage limited by the battery. The separated arrangement provides balanced power delivery to both base and critical loads. Lastly, the smart configuration links the supercapacitor and battery to a DC/DC controller which optimizes both devices for maximum lifetime, runtime, and power.