Carbons useful in energy storage devices

Carbons that are economically produced from carbon precursor selected from naturally occurring carbohydrate, pitch derived from coal tar, pitch derived from petroleum and combinations thereof, are provided. Also provided are processes for making such carbons and the use of such carbons in the formation of electrode structures for use in (i) energy storage applications such as batteries, fuel cells and electric double layer capacitors and (ii) capacitive water deionization applications.