CAPSTONE DEVELOPES NEW TYPE OF HYBRID ELECTRIC DRIVE
Capstone Turbine Corporation of Chatsworth, California, has developed a heavy-duty hybrid electric drive system, utilizing a Capstone 65 kW microturbine as a range extender. Earlier, Capstone released configurations of the C30 (30 kW) microturbine as a range extender meeting California Air Resources Board (CARB) requirements for New On-Road Heavy-Duty Engines for Urban Bus - Hybrid service without aftertreatment
This system will be the first to take advantage of the complete Capstone Drive Solution, which includes the Capstone microturbine along with liquid cooled power electronics, permanent magnet traction drive motor and vehicle power control system.
The electric hybrid vehicle market is in a significant growth phase, with essentially every manufacturer of trucks, buses and automobiles looking for the right solution to serve their customers. Capstone’s microturbine technology offers many benefits for these applications, says the manufacturer, including extremely low emission levels that meet the most stringent CARB and EPA 2010 requirements without any exhaust after-treatment.
The Capstone Drive Solution will make it easier for vehicle manufacturers to integrate microturbines into a series hybrid electric drivetrain. As part of a recent joint development agreement with CalMotors of Camarillo, California, a manufacturer of electric drivelines for roadgoing vehicles, the Capstone HEV product offering will now include inverter drives, traction motors and a vehicle power control module that will seamlessly integrate with Capstone 30kW and 65kW microturbines. The inverters and traction motors are based on adapted versions of the proven Parker Hannifin industrial motor drive products. The Capstone microturbines are able to operate on traditional liquid fuels such as diesel and biodiesel but can also utilize alternative fuels such as natural gas without loss of efficiency. Capstone claims its new Drive Solution offering will open a lot of opportunities for electric drive systems where ultra-low emissions and high efficiency have an advantage over more traditional prime movers.
