Abstract. Ion conducting polymeric gel electrolytes, based on poly vinylidine fluoride-cohexafluropropylene (PVdF-HFP)-ethylene carbonate (EC)-propylene carbonate (PC)-salts, LiC104, NaC104 and (C2H5)4NC104 (TEAC104), have been used in the fabrication of solid state electrical double layer capacitors (EDLCs) with activated charcoal powder electrodes. Comparative studies of different capacitor cells with different gel electrolytes have been carried out using a.c. impedance analysis, linear sweep-reversal voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge techniques. The large values of overall capacitance of 50-100 mFcm z (equivalent to single electrode specific capacitance 50-77 Fg 1 of carbon) have been achieved. This corresponds to the energy density 1.6-2.7 Whkg -1. The values of the capacitance have been found to be almost stable up to 5000 voltammetric cycles. The comparative studies of different capacitor cells indicate that the charging processes and hence the coulombic efficiencies are highly affected by the size of the ions, accumulated at the interfaces of EDLCs.