May 19th, 2010 
Aaron Turpen 
Capstone Turbine Corp, based in California, makes turbine engines, which are engines that burn a fuel to turn a turbine quickly, generating power (electric or mechanical). Capstone has made a name for themselves making electric generators out of their ultra-efficient turbine engines that run on a variety of fuels, including diesel, biodiesel, natural gas, and others. Now they’re teaming with CalMotors and US 1 to put their technology in a big rig.
The turbines (called microturbines to differentiate them from jet engines) made by Capstone come in various sizes, their model number delineating their output in watts. In this case, CalMotors – a Southern California company that develops hybrid-electric and all-electric powertrains for vehicles – will be putting the C65 (65kW output) microturbine into a Class 8 (80,000lb gross vehicle weight/GVW) truck for US 1 Industries. US 1 operates a fleet of over 1,400 trucks across the United States, but will be using this test truck specifically at the Port of Los Angeles (PLA) and areas within 50 miles of the port.
The truck will be using an electric drive train with the microturbine providing power, which will drastically reduce both fuel use and emissions. Since the turbine can be run on a variety of fuels, US 1 will have the flexibility to use the most efficient fuel available without losing the ability to refuel on readily-available fuels when needed.
The truck will be designated an HEV (hybrid-electric vehicle) and given a special test operations license by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the PLA. This is part of the PLA’s initiative to reduce emissions to near zero by 2020. Other clean trucks operating at the port include the Vision Industries Tyrano hydrogen fuel cell truck and Balqon all electric trucks.
This is not Capstone’s first foray into heavy vehicles with their technology. The company has already tested their C65 microturbine in transit buses. The microturbines have also been used in cars and boats.
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If only one could move 40 tons with 65W! The Capstone C65 generates 65KW.
65W is about a tenth of a horse power; 65KW is about 100HP, but electric drive is several times more efficient than mechanical and has greater torque at low RPMs.
I’ve long wondered why trucks use mechanical drive when trains were always “hybrid electric” once beyond steam locomotion. Steam direct drive does deliver the highest torque at low speed, like electric drive. Internal combustion engines have the least torque at low speeds.
Thanks for catching that. I’ve fixed it in the article body. That’s what happens when I get in a hurry, I guess.