GOAL
To demonstrate thermophotovoltaic generation of power in a custom designed series hybrid vehicle.
SPONSORS
The US Department's of Energy and Defense, JX Crystals of Issaquah, WA and the Vehicle Research Institute at Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA
VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS
| THERMOPHOTOVOLTAIC GENERATOR: | The 6.5 kW generator makes use of gallium antimonide photovoltaic cells surrounding a central emiter heated by a compressed natural gas flame to 1700 Kelvin. The infrared photons generated activate the PV cells to produce electricity that maintains a charge in the battery. This generator is very clean and quiet. |
| ELECTRIC MOTOR: | Unique Mobility 53 kW motor which is 92% efficiency through most of the operating regime. The motor is mounted end on to a single dry plate clutch assembly running in ball bearings in a separate housing designed to remove all thrust loading from the electric motor. The clutch assembly is mounted end on to a transversely mounted, four speed, wide ratio transaxle mounted between the rear wheels of the vehicle. |
| BATTERIES: | Ten kW hours at 360 V of Saft NiCd batteries. |
| BODY/CHASSIS | Composite materials in a vinyl-ester matrix. All of the air ducts have been made structural to provide increased chassis stiffness. |
| RANGE: | Currently untested at this time. It is expected to have a range as a series hybrid of approximately 200 miles. |
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