# New micro-turbine hybrid car **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [June 11, 2009, 10:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-micro-turbine-hybrid-car/31759 "2009-06-11T22:00:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 10:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-micro-turbine-hybrid-car/31759/1 "2009-06-11T22:00:06Z")
Capstone turbine unveils a little Ford powered with their turbine plus electric: [http://www…asp?id=512](http://www.capstoneturbine.com/news/story.asp?id=512) I’ve invested in CPST for a few years. It paid off today. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 11:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-micro-turbine-hybrid-car/31759/2 "2009-06-11T23:12:30Z")
For once, at last, a different idea that looks like it has promise. Can I safely assume that the microturbine is driving a generator? Regular turbines are only efficient once they’re spooled up. Does this microturbine have rotating low mass and does it spool up rapidly? Or is it kept spinning? ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 1:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-micro-turbine-hybrid-car/31759/3 "2009-06-12T01:09:26Z")
The bug-a-boo with most gas turbines is the wasted heat energy. They just are not very efficient… A quick check of the Capstone C30 genset shows it weighs 900 pounds and produces 310,000 BTU/Hr in exhaust heat. No mention of how much they cost… ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 2:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-micro-turbine-hybrid-car/31759/4 "2009-06-12T02:40:14Z")
900 pounds must be for a stationary C30 in a heavy duty case. Turbines are generally small and light for their power output. That’s how they revolutionized airplanes and helicopters. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-micro-turbine-hybrid-car/31759/5 "2009-06-12T15:39:11Z")
Even if the weight is cut in half, it will just equal a Corvette LS engine. I hope the C30 is more like 200#, but I doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![meanjoe75fan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/meanjoe75fan/32/552_2.png) [@meanjoe75fan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/meanjoe75fan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 5:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-micro-turbine-hybrid-car/31759/6 "2009-06-12T17:18:16Z")
Interesting. I know a bit about turbine theory, and have a practical experience with Pratt/Whitney products, and always thought of them as polluting kerosene burners, as well as inefficient–especially at reduced power settings. (The positives are good power/weight ratio and virtually bulletproof.) So, it seems positive if this company really has turbines that improve on the 4-stroke’s efficiency. Hopefully they can drive down the price until they’re competetive with piston powerplants in cars and (wish, wish) general aviation. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-micro-turbine-hybrid-car/31759/7 "2009-06-12T18:30:33Z")
My understanding is that it’s a hybrid electric. That suggests that it’s electric with a microturbine providing either power to generate electricity to operate the motor and/or keep the cells charged, and perhaps as a power supplement as well. I was unclear from the article what the setup was. But I am intrigued. ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2009, 5:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-micro-turbine-hybrid-car/31759/8 "2009-06-13T17:22:53Z")
“inefficient–especially at reduced power settings” If it only serves to charge the batteries it can run at optimum power, then shut off. ---
**Author:** ![Xebadaih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d07c76/32.png) [@Xebadaih](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Xebadaih)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2009, 7:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-micro-turbine-hybrid-car/31759/9 "2009-06-14T07:58:10Z")
I wonder how they keep these turbines from becoming clogged by ice and snow. What if they get wet and freeze at night? For these to be a real solution, they have to be usable in ALL driving conditions. ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2009, 3:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-micro-turbine-hybrid-car/31759/10 "2009-06-14T15:01:41Z")
How about an electric case (block?) heater? Once it’s running it’s easy to preheat the intake air, just like with ICE engine.