Dean Kamen Combines Stirling Engine With Electric Car

Colin Smith writes "Dean Kamen, (inventor of the Segway) has combined a Stirling engine with a battery-powered electric vehicle based on the Ford Think to provide a fully decoupled electric hybrid car which can run on any fuel which can provide enough heat to run the Stirling generator. Think are also producing a purely battery 'Think City' car which is capable of 62mph and with a range of 126miles." Some stats on the Ford Think: Top speed, 55mph; 0-30, 6.5 seconds; Range, 60 miles on battery.

Comments

stirling engine is a no-go

[Ancient_Hacker]

It's been refined for 160 years plus change. So it ought to be really spiffy, right? Well, no. There are definite upper limits to the efficiency of such a device. Most Stirling sites are very cagey when it comes to mentioning the efficiency of what they're selling. For good reason, it's terrible. Like 3 to 6 percent. That kinda explains why it's not in use everywhere, more like nowhere.

Re:stirling engine is a no-go

[shbazjinkens]

It's been refined for 160 years plus change. So it ought to be really spiffy, right? Well, no. There are definite upper limits to the efficiency of such a device. Most Stirling sites are very cagey when it comes to mentioning the efficiency of what they're selling. For good reason, it's terrible. Like 3 to 6 percent. That kinda explains why it's not in use everywhere, more like nowhere.

Citation Needed

20 years ago NASA had an automotive Stirling program. Read it and stuff it.

They converted a Chevy Celebrity and the results show that the highway gas mileage was increased from 40 to 58 mpg and the urban mileage from 26 to 33 mpg with no change in gross weight of the vehicle. This is NOT a hybrid - it is Stirling only.

By combining the efficiency of the Stirling with the get-up-and go of an electric this is a pretty good thing coming, and I've been waiting a while to see someone to produce it.

Re:stirling engine is a no-go

[MechaStreisand]

Nothing is free. There is a cost in weight and a dollar cost to the vehicle itself. 3% efficient doesn't look very good when it's not free at all.

Diagram

[russoc4]

For those of you who do not know what a Stirling engine looks like, Wikipedia has a very detailed diagram.

Re:Couple of things bother me...

[MartinSchou]

60 miles for some is less than their daily commute to work.

Ah, yes, the horrors of a car that won't fulfill EVERYONES needs. How about this - the people who drive more than 60 miles in a day can get another car. Maybe one with a bigger range.

People who need to drive 150 mph can get a powerfull sportscar - maybe even one that'll only do 2 mpg flat out.

People who need to haul a ton of stuff could get a different kind of car. Maybe one with a nice big flat section where you'd have the rear seats. Maybe a "flat bed" of sorts.

The people who have a need to drive 6 kids and their dogs every day could get something like a bus, but smaller. Miniature bus of sorts.

And maybe people like you could start to consider that there is no car in the world, that fulfills EVERYONES needs at once.

Re:Couple of things bother me...

[Rei]

Exactly. On the one or two times per year that I need a truck, *I Rent One*. I don't keep a truck around at all times for the offchance that I might perchance need one. Why do people feel the need that they must have a vehicle that can do everything when they'll mainly just use it for their daily commute?