Turbine cars

[The Dark Side of Will]

http://www.gizmag.com/capstone-cmt-380- ... nes/13517/

http://www.capstoneturbine.com/index.asp

Actually found in thread on Old Europe: http://www.fiero.com/forum/Forum2/HTML/127397.html

[The Dark Side of Will]

Unrelated but also cool: Plasma rocket: http://www.adastrarocket.com/aarc/

[BC2002SS]

http://www.marineturbine.com/projects.asp

[The Dark Side of Will]

Notice that they don't say ANYTHING about the truck's fuel economy... or the Mini's, for that matter

Turbines are great in boats for the same reason they do well in aircraft... high power density, long duration sustained maximum output.

Where performance is important, the Navy uses turbines: Cruisers and Destroyers... ships that have to be fast and carry a heavy weapons load. When they don't have to have extensive machinery spaces, these ships can be built to a lower displacement without sacrificing their capabilities. This means they can be smaller, cheaper and just as fast with fewer SHP's and lower fuel consumption.

However, in ships that can't sacrifice displacement, like the new San Antonio (LPD-17) class amphibious assault ships, they went back to diesel piston power.

[crzyone]

I'm surprised rotary engines didn't catch on more in boat applications. Tons of power for their weight and size, but like a turbine, not to great on fuel.