A cathode in a lithium ion capacitor, including: a carbon composition comprising: an activated carbon; a conductive carbon; and a binder in in amounts as defined herein; and a current collector that supports the carbon composition, wherein the activated carbon has: a surface area of from 500 to 3000 m2/g; a pore volume where from 50 to 80% of the void volume is in pores less than 10; a pore volume higher than 0.3 cm3/gm occupied by the micropores less than 10; and a microporosity of greater than 60% of the total pore volume. Also disclosed is a method of making the cathode and using the cathode in a lithium ion capacitor.