What about a hybrid turbine car?

Question

If I understand right electric motors are well suited for stop and go driving while turbine engines are well suited for long extended trips. So doesnt a hybrid turbine car make sense? If not why?

Answer 1

Interesting idea.. The problem is that turbines run efficiently when run at constant speed. Going from low RPM to high RPM, they are pigs on fuel consumption. For city driving, a very small turbine running flat out into an electric motor/battery combination would work very well. For highway driving, you'd need a turbine with the capacity to handle the highest load of high speed, which would be inefficient at city speeds. Add in, that turbines are very, very expensive engines to build, needing special materials and very precise machining. They like to run at very high temperatures and speeds. A cab or city bus, might be a good turbine application.

Answer 2

A turbine wastes work available from heat just like an internal combustion engine does. Perhaps a sterling or carnot cycle engine coupled with a small combusion engine/turbine would capture the available waste heat energy and make an incredible efficient package.

Just a thought.

Answer 3

Here are a points to consider.

1) Turbine are designed to operate at high temperatures - too high to be safe in vehicles
2) They are designed to produce electricity and heat
3) Their electricity is best served for stationary applications e.g. power plants. Not automobile applications.
4) Turbines are too large and heavy for vehicles.

Answer 4

buy yourself a magzine, it tells all