Capstone microturbine for hybrid diesel-electric vehicles certified by California ARB

21 March 2001

Chatsworth, CA-based Capstone Turbine Corporation announced that its diesel-fueled microturbine power system for use in commercial hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) has received emission certification from the California Air Resources Board (ARB).

Using an ARB-approved cycle developed for testing emissions of microturbine systems, the nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions of the 30-kilowatt Capstone microturbine using common diesel No. 2 fuel was 0.70 g/bhp-hr, more than 75% cleaner than the lowest-emitting ARB-certified heavy duty bus and truck diesel engine.

Particulate matter (PM) was measured at 0.01 g/bhp-hr, a level comparable to the best natural gas fueled heavy duty bus and truck engines or to a diesel engine equipped with a particulate filter.

Capstone last month announced ARB certification of its gaseous-fueled microturbines for hybrid electric vehicles. Emissions of the microturbine, using either compressed natural gas (CNG) or propane as fuel, were also significantly lower than all other ARB-certified engines using those fuels.

The microturbine engine achieves these low emission levels without the use of exhaust gas aftertreatment. In hybrid electric buses or other vehicles, the Capstone microturbine serves as an onboard generator to replenish the vehicle’s batteries.

Source: Capstone Turbine