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Advanced power technologies are being investigated by the Power Technology Division (PTD) of the NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC). These technologies are varied and the applications are diverse. Among these technologies are batteries, high efficiency induction motors, high frequency electric power distribution, dynamic energy storage, and Stirling cycle machines. While the emphasis of the PTD research is the application of these technologies to fulfill space power requirements, terrestrial applications may also exist. Future regulation of vehicular emission levels has prompted a recent increase in interest in electric and hybrid vehicles. Electric vehicles have been limited in range and performance by the storage capability of currently available batteries. As an alternative, the hybrid vehicle may render a more near term solution to provide an environmentally safe, full performance vehicle.

Advanced energy conversion technologies are being investigated by the Power Technology Division (PTD) of the NASA Lewis Research Center. Among the technologies are batteries, induction motors, high frequency electric power management and distribution, dynamic energy storage, and Stirling cycle machines. While the emphasis of the Division is the application of these technologies to fulfill space power requirements, many terrestrial applications exist. This paper presents a study assessing the feasibility of a hybrid electric vehicle based on some advanced technologies being investigated by the PTD. The study considers fuel economy, emissions, driveability, performance, and range of a mid-size, current production vehicle (Taurus) operating in the hybrid mode. A vehicle with a 20.1 kWe (27 hp) free-piston Stirling power convertor as the prime mover, and a flywheel as the energy storage device was modeled.