Capstone unveils CMT-380 electric car in LA Auto Show

Capstone Turbine is introducing an electric car prototype that uses one of its 30KW C30 microturbines as the generator unit. Currently in the design and testing phase, the CMT-380 automobile is being developed by Richard Hilleman, Chief Creative Director of Electronic Arts, with the support of Capstone Turbine.

The electric-fueled CMT-380 features a polymer-based lithium battery pack that can support travel distances of up to 80 miles. In addition, when car batteries are near reaching the predetermined state of discharge, the C30 microturbines automatically fire up to recharge the batteries to extend the driving range at least 500 miles.

With the prototype’s body based on Factory Five Racing’s GTM car model, CMT-380 can accelerate to 60mph in just 3.9 seconds and has a maximum speed of 150mph. At the moment, the CMT-380 car model is on display at the LA Auto Show until 13 December.

Captone’s 30KW microturbines are widely used in hybrid electric buses, transit shuttles and trolleys. The C30 microturbines installed in the CMT-380 require no oil or other lubricants, so maintenance is tremendously low and the need to dispose environmentally harmful car products is eliminated.

Moreover, the combustion system of the microturbines in CMT-380 releases lesser emissions. The car prototype also uses an energy-efficient recuperator that extracts the energy coming from the exhaust stream and that recycles it to preheat air.

Earlier this year, a liquid-powered C30 microturbine was effectively integrated by Langford Performance Engineering into a Ford S-Max vehicle. Meanwhile, Israeli start-up company ETV Motors is now developing a Range-Extended Electric Vehicle (REEV) technology that could combine a dual power microturbine and a high voltage lithium-ion battery.