An electric double layer capacitor electrode, including: an activated carbon having: a pore volume utilization efficiency (PVUE) of from about 200 to 290 F/cm3, wherein PVUE is the ratio of the activated carbon gravimetric capacitance (F/g) to the pore volume (cm3/g) of the activated carbon; a low non-linearity value of from 0.1 to 5%; and a total pore volume of from 0.32 to 0.56 cm3/g. Also disclosed is a method of making an electric double layer capacitor electrode, and a method of characterizing the performance of activated carbon, and the electrode, in an electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) device, as defined, herein.