A California turbine manufacturer is working on Class 7 and 8 turbine-electric series-hybrid trucks with Kenworth and Peterbilt. One concept truck is running and the other is being assembled.


Each truck uses a Capstone C65 microturbine, which produces 65 kilowatts (87 horsepower) and is emissions certified by the California Air Resources Board. The "ranged extended" trucks will quantify the performance, efficiency, and economic benefits of a microturbine-based series-hybrid system.

The Kenworth truck is operational and is now running at Paccar's test track in Washington state, and the Peterbilt truck is being assembled, said Captone Turbine Corp., which based in Chatsworth, near Los Angeles.

"We're excited to partner with two U.S.-based heavy duty truck companies in Kenworth Truck Company and Peterbilt Motors Company on exploring ways to integrate fuel-efficient microturbine technology into medium and heavy duty trucks," said Darren Jamison, Capstone's president and CEO.

"We are committed to provide cost-effective business solutions for operators in the trucking industry while also helping to reduce emissions. These programs are an important first in a several step process to potentially developing a commercially available microturbine based hybrid product in the next several years," he said.

Capstone claims to be a leading producer of low-emission, commercially viable microturbine products, and has shipped more than 6,000 systems to customers worldwide. They have logged millions of documented operating hours.

Capstone Turbine is a member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Combined Heat and Power Partnership, which aims to improve the efficiency of the nation's energy infrastructure and reduce emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases.

More info: www.capstoneturbine.com