Editing Gas turbine (section)

====Concept cars====
[[File:Rover.jet1.jpg|thumb|The 1950 [[Rover Company|Rover]] JET1]]

The first serious investigation of using a gas turbine in cars was in 1946 when two engineers, Robert Kafka and Robert Engerstein of Carney Associates, a New York engineering firm, came up with the concept where a unique compact turbine engine design would provide power for a rear wheel drive car. After an article appeared in ''Popular Science'', there was no further work, beyond the paper stage.<ref>{{cite journal|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=7SADAAAAMBAJ&q=popular+science+May+1946&pg=PA121 |page=121 |title=Gas Turbines For Autos |date=May 1946 |journal=Popular Science |volume=146 |issue=8 |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref>

;Early concepts (1950s/60s)
In 1950, designer F.R. Bell and Chief Engineer [[Maurice Wilks]] from British car manufacturers [[Rover Company|Rover]] unveiled the first car powered with a gas turbine engine. The two-seater [[Rover JET1|JET1]] had the engine positioned behind the seats, air intake grilles on either side of the car, and exhaust outlets on the top of the tail. During tests, the car reached top speeds of {{convert|140|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}, at a turbine speed of 50,000&nbsp;rpm. After being shown in the United Kingdom and the United States in 1950, JET1 was further developed, and was subjected to speed trials on the Jabbeke highway in Belgium in June 1952, where it exceeded {{cvt|150|mph|km/h|order=flip|round=5}}.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bobbitt |first=Malcolm |year=2007 |orig-year=1994 |chapter=III &ndash; Gas-Turbines and the Jet Era |chapter-url={{Google books|1sR68p5zDdsC|Rover P4 Series|page=71|plainurl=yes}} |title=Rover P4 Series |pages=84–87 |url={{Google books|1sR68p5zDdsC|Rover P4 Series|plainurl=yes}} |edition=revised |location=Dorchester, UK |publisher=Veloce Publishing |isbn=978-1-903706-57-2 |access-date=17 October 2014}}</ref> The car ran on [[petrol]], [[kerosene|paraffin (kerosene)]] or [[Diesel fuel|diesel]] oil, but fuel consumption problems proved insurmountable for a production car. JET1 is on display at the London [[Science Museum (London)|Science Museum]].

A French turbine-powered car, the SOCEMA-Grégoire, was displayed at the October 1952 [[Paris Auto Show]]. It was designed by the French engineer [[Jean-Albert Grégoire]].<ref name=retro05>{{cite web | url = http://www.classics.com/retro05.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181216115459/http://www.classics.com/retro05.html | archive-date = 2018-12-16 | title = Rétromobile 2005 | date = February 2005 | publisher = Classics.com | first = Stephane | last = Depreux }}</ref>

[[File:FirebirdI.jpg|thumb|[[General Motors Firebird|GM Firebird I]] ]]

The first turbine-powered car built in the US was the [[General Motors Firebird|GM Firebird I]] which began evaluations in 1953. While photos of the Firebird I may suggest that the jet turbine's thrust propelled the car like an aircraft, the turbine actually drove the rear wheels. The Firebird I was never meant as a commercial passenger car and was built solely for testing & evaluation as well as public relation purposes.<ref>{{cite journal| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=nNwDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA90|title=Gas Turbine Auto |journal=Popular Mechanics |date=March 1954 |page=90 |volume=101 |issue=3}}</ref> Additional Firebird concept cars, each powered by gas turbines, were developed for the 1953, 1956 and 1959 [[General Motors Motorama|Motorama]] auto shows. The GM Research gas turbine engine also was fitted to a series of [[transit bus]]es, starting with the Turbo-Cruiser I of 1953.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.4271/650714 |jstor=44554219 |title=The General Motors Research GT-309 Gas Turbine Engine |first1=W.A. |last1=Turunen |first2=J.S. |last2=Collman |journal=Transactions |series=SAE Technical Paper Series |volume=74 |date=1966 |publisher=Society of Automotive Engineering |pages=357–377}}</ref>

[[File:ChryslerTurbineEngine01 crop1.jpg|thumb|Engine compartment of a Chrysler 1963 Turbine car]]

Starting in 1954 with a modified [[Plymouth (automobile)|Plymouth]],<ref name="PS-turboPlymouth">{{cite journal|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=zSADAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA102 |title=Turbo Plymouth Threatens Future of Standard |journal=Popular Science |date=July 1954 |page=102 |volume=165 |issue=1 |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref> the American car manufacturer [[Chrysler Corporation|Chrysler]] demonstrated several [[Chrysler Turbine engines|prototype gas turbine]]-powered cars from the early 1950s through the early 1980s. Chrysler built fifty [[Chrysler Turbine Car]]s in 1963 and conducted the only consumer trial of gas turbine-powered cars.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.allpar.com/mopar/turbine.html |title=Chrysler turbine engines and cars |publisher=Allpar.com |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref> Each of their turbines employed a unique rotating [[recuperator]], referred to as a regenerator that increased efficiency.<ref name="PS-turboPlymouth"/>

In 1954, [[Fiat]] unveiled a [[concept car]] with a turbine engine, called [[Fiat Turbina]]. This vehicle, looking like an aircraft with wheels, used a unique combination of both jet thrust and the engine driving the wheels. Speeds of {{convert|175|mph|km/h|abbr=on|order=flip|round=5|0}} were claimed.<ref>{{cite journal|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=zSADAAAAMBAJ&pg=-PA20 |title=Italy's Turbo Car Hits 175 m.p.h. |journal=Popular Mechanics |date=July 1954 |page=120 |volume=165 |issue=1 |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref>

In the 1960s, Ford and GM also were developing gas turbine semi-trucks. Ford displayed the Big Red at the [[1964 World's Fair]].<ref name=bigred3>{{cite web |url=https://www.thedrive.com/news/37925/we-found-fords-incredible-turbine-powered-semi-truck-big-red-thats-been-lost-for-decades |title=We Found Ford's Incredible Turbine-Powered Semi-Truck 'Big Red' That's Been Lost for Decades |work=The Drive |location=US |first=Peter |last=Holderith |date=24 March 2021 |access-date=27 March 2021}}</ref>  With the trailer, it was {{cvt|96|foot|m|order=flip}} long, {{cvt|13|foot|m|order=flip}} high, and painted crimson red.  It contained the Ford-developed gas turbine engine, with output power and torque of {{cvt|600|hp|kW|order=flip}} and {{cvt|855|lbft|order=flip|round=5}}.  The cab boasted a highway map of the continental U.S., a mini-kitchen, bathroom, and a TV for the co-driver.  The fate of the truck was unknown for several decades, but it was rediscovered in early 2021 in private hands, having been restored to running order.<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuGqP25jnQU | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/DuGqP25jnQU| archive-date=2021-10-30|title=" Big Red " Experimental Gas Turbine Semi Truck 1964 New York World's Fair XD10344 |publisher=Ford Motor Company |via=YouTube |year=1966 |access-date=4 September 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name=bigred2>{{cite web |url=https://www.thedrive.com/news/35030/fords-giant-turbine-semi-truck-big-red-is-lost-somewhere-in-the-american-southeast |title=Ford's Giant Turbine Semi-Truck 'Big Red' Is Lost Somewhere in the American Southeast |work=The Drive |location=US |first=Peter |last=Holderith |date=19 August 2020 |access-date=21 August 2020}}</ref> The Chevrolet division of GM built the ''Turbo Titan'' series of concept trucks with turbine motors as analogs of the Firebird concepts, including Turbo Titan I ({{circa|1959}}, shares GT-304 engine with Firebird II), Turbo Titan II ({{circa|1962}}, shares GT-305 engine with Firebird III), and [[Chevrolet Turbo Titan III|Turbo Titan III]] (1965, GT-309 engine); in addition, the GM Bison gas turbine truck was shown at the 1964 World's Fair.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.topspeed.com/cars/guides/the-story-of-turbo-titan-chevy-s-long-lost-gas-turbine-truck/ |title=The story of Turbo Titan - Chevy's long-lost gas turbine truck |first=Iulian |last=Dnistran |date=April 20, 2021 |work=TopSpeed |access-date=12 September 2022}}</ref>

;Emissions and fuel economy (1970s/80s)
As a result of the U.S. [[Clean Air Act (United States)|Clean Air Act]] Amendments of 1970, research was funded into developing automotive gas turbine technology.<ref>{{cite book|title=Issues in Federally Supported Research on Advanced Automotive Power Systems |first1=Lawrence H. |last1=Linden |first2=Subramanyam |last2=Kumar |first3=Paul R. |last3=Samuelson |publisher=Division of Policy Research and Analysis, National Science Foundation |date=December 1977 |page=49 |hdl=1721.1/31259 }}</ref> Design concepts and vehicles were conducted by [[Chrysler]], [[General Motors]], [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] (in collaboration with [[Garrett AiResearch|AiResearch]]), and [[American Motors]] (in conjunction with [[Williams International|Williams Research]]).<ref>Linden, page 53.</ref> Long-term tests were conducted to evaluate comparable cost efficiency.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Verrelli |first1=L. D. |last2=Andary |first2=C. J. |title=Exhaust Emission Analysis of the Williams Research Gas Turbine AMC Hornet |journal=National Technical Information Service |date=May 1972 |id=PB218687 |osti=5038506 }}</ref> Several [[AMC Hornet]]s were powered by a small Williams regenerative gas turbine weighing {{convert|250|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} and producing {{convert|80|hp|kW PS|0|abbr=on}} at 4450&nbsp;rpm.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Norbye |first=Jan P. |title=Tiny 80-HP gas turbine to power compact car |journal=Popular Science |date=March 1971 |volume=198 |issue=3 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ogAAAAAAMBAJ&q=Tiny+80-HP+gas+turbine+to+power+compact+car&pg=PA34 |page=34 |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Williams Turbine Takes the Road |journal=Motor Trend |date=November 1971 |volume=23 |issue=11 |first=Karl |last=Ludvigsen |author-link=Karl Ludvigsen}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|first1=Jan P. |last1=Norbye |first2=Jim |last2=Dunne |journal=Popular Science |date=September 1973 |page=59 |title=Gas turbine car: it's now or never |volume=302 |issue=3 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=scA6lVmzQA8C&pg=PA56}}</ref>

In 1982, General Motors used an [[Oldsmobile Delta 88]] powered by a gas turbine using pulverised coal dust. This was considered for the United States and the western world to reduce dependence on [[1980s oil glut|middle east oil at the time]]<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/automobiles/04COAL.html | title=Coal in Your Stocking? Fuel up the Cadillac! | newspaper=The New York Times | date=2 January 2009 | last1=Roy | first1=Rex }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.autoweek.com/car-life/but-wait-theres-more/a1812701/oldsmobile-was-powered-coal-burning-turbine-engine/ | title=This Oldsmobile was powered by a coal-burning turbine engine | date=16 January 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://drivemag.com/news/gm-made-a-coal-powered-car-in-the-80s | title=GM made a coal-powered car in the 80s | date=20 March 2018 }}</ref>

[[Toyota]] demonstrated several gas turbine powered concept cars, such as the [[Toyota Century GT45|Century gas turbine hybrid]] in 1975, the [[Toyota Sports 800#Sports 800 Gas Turbine Hybrid|Sports 800 Gas Turbine Hybrid]] in 1979 and the [[Toyota GTV|GTV]] in 1985. No production vehicles were made. The GT24 engine was exhibited in 1977 without a vehicle.

;Later development
In the early 1990s, [[Volvo]] introduced the [[Volvo ECC]] which was a gas turbine powered [[hybrid electric vehicle]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greencarreports.com/ |title=Article in Green Car |publisher=Greencar.com |date=31 October 2007 |access-date=13 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813152350/http://www.greencarreports.com/ |archive-date=13 August 2012}}</ref>

In 1993, [[General Motors]] developed a gas turbine powered EV1 series [[hybrid vehicle|hybrid]]—as a prototype of the [[General Motors EV1]]. A [[Williams International]] 40&nbsp;kW turbine drove an alternator which powered the battery–electric [[powertrain]]. The turbine design included a recuperator. In 2006, GM went into the [[EcoJet concept car]] project with [[Jay Leno]].

At the [[2010 Paris Motor Show]] [[Jaguar Cars|Jaguar]] demonstrated its [[Jaguar C-X75]] concept car. This electrically powered [[supercar]] has a top speed of {{convert|204|mph|abbr=on|0}} and can go from {{convert|0|to|62|mph|abbr=on|0}} in 3.4 seconds. It uses lithium-ion batteries to power four electric motors which combine to produce 780&nbsp;bhp. It will travel {{convert|68|mi}} on a single charge of the batteries, and uses a pair of Bladon Micro Gas Turbines to re-charge the batteries extending the range to {{convert|560|mi}}.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.automoblog.net/2010/10/01/the-electric-cat-jaguar-c-x75-concept-supercar/ |title=The Electric Cat: Jaguar C-X75 Concept Supercar |publisher=Automoblog.net |date=1 October 2010 |first=Chris |last=Nagy |work=Automoblog |access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref>