The electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) should have an almost indefinite life, because the EDLC is charged and discharged by the electrostatic adsorption and desorption of ions on electrodes whose processing involves mass transfers without a chemical reaction. However, the actual life of an EDLC is finite, such that its performance begins to slowly degrade and is significantly deteriorated at some point. We have investigated this phenomenon in detail by analyzing changes in the species of the EDLC during its life. We found that reactions on the positive and negative electrode occurred in phase with the consumption of oxygen, carbon in the electrode materials, and anions in the electrolyte during EDLC charging to change the electrode potentials and the abundance of ions on the electrodes. A product and/or disappearance by the side reactions deteriorated the performance of the active materials. Here we suggest a life process during the float charge of the EDLC and a directional concept for extending its life while comparing experimental data with theoretical models of EDLC charging. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.