The CMT-380 Hybrid Concept Comes Complete With Jet Turbine

Small companies are developing electric supercars with Ferrari-rivalling performance may possibly seem fairly common these days, and the most recent entrant into this niche market segment--Capstone Turbine--seems determined to follow in the footsteps of other fledgling electric car start-ups.

Capstone Turbine is pushing traditional hybrid and electric vehicle barriers with the introduction of the CMT-380, a high-performance, hybrid supercar powered by lithium-polymer batteries and an ultra-low emission, range-extending microturbine engine.

Yes, you read it exactly. The CMT-380 features an ultra-clean as well as quiet jet engine under the hood of the borrowed Factory Five Racing GTM body.

Through this unique powertrain combination on board, the CMT-380 is claimed to be capable of traveling from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds, reach a top speed of 150 mph and drive more than 500 miles on a single tank of fuel.

The microturbine engine develops about 40 hp (horsepower) and runs on diesel or biodiesel. The set-up features an electric generator as well as turbine components mounted on a single shaft that are supported by air bearings. So there are no liquids to lubricate or cool the microturbine.

It is so clean that it does not require any exhaust after treatment to meet stringent clean air requirements of the California Air Resources Board or EPA 2010.

While driving, the car can operate on 100% battery power in zero-emissions mode for a range of up to 80 miles. As soon as the batteries reach a pre-determined state of discharge, the microturbine quietly fires up and recharges the batteries on the fly to extend the driving range up to 500 miles similar to the set-up used by the upcoming Chevrolet Volt and most other range-extended plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Electronic Arts Chief Creative Director Richard Hilleman, who is the creator of popular video games, developed the concept for the high-performance hybrid-electric microturbine vehicle with support from Capstone Turbine, who is the world's leading clean technology manufacturer of microturbine energy systems.

The project is still in the concept phase and will be wholly on display at this week’s 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show.