Microturbine Tested In Kenworth Class 7 Hybrid

When Capstone Turbine Corp., was first formed, the Chatsworth, Calif., manufacturer tested its units in a variety of both mobile and stationary applications. Since that time, the company has found much of its success in stationery, mostly power generation, uses.

Now Capstone has announced that it has successfully completed track testing of a Kenworth Class 7 hybrid electric work truck using its 65 kW microturbine as an on board range extender. The successful track testing confirmed both high-speed performance as well as operation on 20 percent grades, Capstone said.

“This is a very significant milestone in our joint development program with Kenworth Truck Co., which is funded in part by the South Coast Air Quality Management District and San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District,” said Darren Jamison, Capstone’s president and chief executive officer.

“The objective of this program is to demonstrate the considerable fuel economy benefits, lower emissions and significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of a microturbine-powered delivery or work vehicle. Electric vehicles are excellent for the environment, but the ability to save money from improvements in fuel economy is critical to making these vehicles both sustainable and cost-effective. Working with Kenworth has been very beneficial for Capstone to further develop our technical and market expertise in applying our technology to hybrid electric vehicles,” Jamison said.

The Kenworth Class 7 work truck features a Capstone C65 microturbine that is installed onboard and operates on compressed natural gas. The microturbine acts as a range extender to charge an onboard 47 kWh Li-Ion battery pack, which in turn provides power to the electric traction motors that propel the truck. The truck is fitted with a refrigerated box body that uses electric power to provide payload cooling while on the road, thereby eliminating the need to operate a generator set. The drivetrain is sized for urban delivery cycles, but is capable of achieving significant highway speeds as well.

Capstone has developed simulations to compare a microturbine-powered hybrid electric vehicle’s fuel economy, NOx and CO₂ emissions to a conventional diesel-powered truck drivetrain operating on city and rural delivery cycles. Simulated results for low-mileage urban delivery routes indicate diesel equivalent truck miles-per-gallon could be as much as three times higher for the microturbine hybrid, with a corresponding reduction in greenhouse gas of 65 percent and a reduction of NOx by more than 90 percent. Capstone plans to begin customer demonstration testing later this year as well as additional drive cycle testing to confirm predicted performance.

To track current and future progress on this Capstone hybrid electric vehicle project: https://www.capstoneturbine.com/news/in-the-news/detail/6610/a-capstone-c65-microturbine-provides-extended-range-by