Microturbines for buses, trolleys, and transit shuttles make their way into Green Exotic Cars

Capstone Turbine Corporation has been working on the science behind the green car movement since 1988. In 2009, they debuted a prototype green exotic car, the CMT-380. Here is more about the company, where to buy their stock, the kinds of places microturbines are popping up for use around the world, and why the technology affects you and I personally. Q&A provided for educational purposes and to encourage people interested in financially backing green projects in their stock portfolio to take a second look.

MICROTURBINES, EXOTIC CARS, AND YOU

What is a Microturbine?

Microturbines reduce greenhouse gas emissions and extend the range of state of the art hybrid electric vehicles.

Where are microturbines used?

Capstone's 30-kilowatt microturbines have already been installed in a wide variety of hybrid electric buses, trolleys and transit shuttles around the world. The vehicles (including hybrid buses) are already  operating today in U.S. cities like New York, Baltimore and Charlotte. In addition, they run in international cities like London, Tokyo, Paris, Rome and Auckland. 

Have I come across microturbine technology in my everyday life on the road without knowing it?

The addition of microturbine technology to public transportation units not only has helped reduce greenhouse emissions, it has extended the functional driving range of the state of the art hybrid electric vehicles. As something already present in the marketplace but not widely understood, the microturbines may have already had an effect on your personal life -- even if you did not notice or know about it.

Whether you rode in a vehicle that was equipped, drove behind a vehicle that did not pollute or cough big black clouds of burnt carbon fuel by-product on you, or your city pollution index was a little lower thanks to the use of microturbine vehicles that don't pollute, if you live in or have visited an urban area, this story is of importance.

Where else has microturbine technology from Capstone been applied?

According to the company website, the energy from Capstone's microturbine technology is already being applied to a variety of applications at sites worldwide. 

Capstone has shipped over 5,000 microturbines worldwide which are able to produce energy ranging from 30 kilowatts up to 5 megawatts and are supplying power at sites around the world, including office buildings, hospitals, hotels, universities, oil and gas applications, landfills, waste water treatment plants, farm digesters, industrial manufacturing operations and others.

What kind of fuel sources power Capstone's microturbines?

The Capstone Turbine website claims,

Capstone microturbines can run on a variety of fuels, including natural gas, waste methane from landfills, biodiesel, diesel, kerosene and propane. Microturbine efficiency increases when used in Combined Heat and Power (CHP) and Combined Cooling Heat and Power (CCHP) applications that utilize waste heat energy produced by the microturbines to recapture and heat water or buildings, or run through an absorption chiller to create air conditioning.

CAPSTONE IS A PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANY PROMISING THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT IN GREEN CAR TECHNOLOGY

Capstone Turbine Corporation (www.capstoneturbine.com) is a company whose stock you can follow, purchase, and should keep your eye on in the future because they are making technological advances that are getting ready to be applied to the auto world. If you are an investor looking to back a green car project, this one might be a good choice for you. [SEE Nasdaq: CPST]

On microturbine technology being applied in sports cars, exotic cars, and supercars (and making the future of the auto design world ideas happen today), company CEO and spokesperson Darren Jaimison says the leap to the privately owned vehicle market has always been planned.

"The vehicle market is not a new market for Capstone," Jamison said in a Press Release issued November 30, 2009. Moreover, timing is everything.

"Hybrid electric vehicle applications have always been part of Capstone's vision since the company was founded back in 1988. The first microturbines Capstone designed and built were integrated into automotive applications. But like all new technologies, timing is everything and our initial hybrid design for cars was ahead of its time and the company turned to the more mature stationary power markets. Now, more than two decades later, hybrid electric vehicles are gaining interest in the market and people are taking another look at microturbines as electric vehicle battery chargers and for public charging stations," added Jamison.

MICROTURBINE MAKES DEBUT ON EXOTIC CAR PROTOTYPE

Recently, the microturbine has been used to keep exhaust clean and clear on a new concept car that made it's debut at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show --the CMT-380 by Capstone.

The CMT-380's 30-kilowatt microturbine features an electric generator and turbine components mounted on a single shaft, which is supported by air bearings -- so there are no liquids to lubricate or cool the microturbine.

It uses a patented combustion system to achieve extremely low exhaust emissions that do not require expensive exhaust after treatments.

"Not only does this car look great and is fun to drive, but its low-maintenance, high-efficiency turbine engine makes it a stress-free, no compromise hybrid," said Richard Hilleman, CMT-380 co-creator.

"The CMT-380 is perfect for people who want it all. These kinds of customers value a high level of driving performance but also are concerned about social issues such as reducing greenhouse emissions and limiting our country's dependence on foreign oil," added Hilleman.

MORE ABOUT THE CAPSTONE PROTOTYPE EXOTIC CAR

"Capstone's CMT-380 is just now finishing up the conceptual design and first article testing stage," said Jamison.

"We plan to finalize very soon a limited production plan, in part, based on interest received at the LA Auto Show. We anticipate customers will be a select group of individuals who appreciate its many innovative high-performance and high-technology driving characteristics, long driving range and ultra-low emissions," added Jamison.

The prototype hybrid electric supercar with microturbine technology [debuted] at the LA Auto Show Dec. 2-13, 2009. Here are more details about the vehicle from the auto makers company press release.

[SOURCE]

CHATSWORTH, Calif., Nov. 30, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Capstone Turbine Corporation (www.capstoneturbine.com) (Nasdaq:CPST) is pushing traditional hybrid electric vehicle barriers with the introduction of the CMT-380, a high performance hybrid electric supercar powered by traditional batteries and an untraditional ultra low emission range extending microturbine, which is essentially like having an ultra-clean and quiet jet engine under the hood. The supercar, which is in the design and test phase, was developed in partnership with Electronic Arts Chief Creative Director Richard Hilleman.

"The sleek-looking, low to the ground, high-performance supercar definitely raises hybrid's cool factor on several levels," stated Jim Crouse, Capstone's Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "The CMT-380's design performance numbers speak for themselves: 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds, 150 mph top speed, and an unheard-of driving range of up to 500 miles on a single tank of fuel, all with ultra-low exhaust emissions that rival any hybrid on the market today," added Crouse.

[Editorial Note: The 3.9 second 0-60 rate is pretty fast... like 1988 Porsche Turbo 911 fast -- in case you are wondering if the acceleration is a gas.]

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT GREEN NEWS, FOLLOW @GREENCELEBRITY ON TWITTER.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT GREEN BUILDING, FOLLOW @GREENCRAFTSMEN ON TWITTER

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT GREEN EXOTIC CARS, FOLLOW @CAFECARS ON TWITTER

What do YOU know? Do you have more information to share about Capstone's progress in the auto market or microturbines? Sound off in the comments section below.