WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CALIFORNIA STEAM BUS PROJECT?

THE CALIFORNIA STEAM BUS IS STILL CONSIDERED AN EXCELLENT CANDIDATE FOR STOP-AND-GO URBAN VEHICLES, HOWEVER SUBSTANTIAL PROBLEMS STILL REMAIN. HIGH FUEL CONSUMPTION CONTINUES TO BE THE LARGEST PROBLEM. THE IDEAL RANKINE CYCLE EFFICIENCY AT PRESENT IS 25% BUT COULD BE INCREASED TO 30% IN TWO YEARS AND EVENTUALLY 32-35%. PRESENT THERMAL EFFICIENCIES ARE AS LOW AS 40% OF IDEAL CYCLE EFFICIENCY BUT COULD BE EXPANDED IN THE SHORT TERM TO 60% AND EVENTUALLY TO 70%. MAJOR GAINS IN FUEL ECONOMY COULD BE OBTAINED BY REDUCING PARASITIC AUXILIARY LOADS AND BY INCREASING EXPENSION EFFICIENCIES. AT PRESENT THE BEST STEAM BUS IS ONLY OBTAINING 1 MILE PER GALLON (MPG) VS 3.5 MPG FOR TODAY'S DIESEL BUSES BUT THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE'S ASSEMBLY OFFICE OF RESEARCH PREDICTS THAT STEAM BUS MILEAGE SHOULD INCREASE TO 2.3 MPG IN TWO MORE YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT AND POSSIBLY 3.3 MPG WITHIN A DECADE.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/2240909
• Publication Date: 1973-8

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 22
• Serial:
  • Automotive Engineering
  • Volume: 81
  • Issue Number: 8
  • Publisher: Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
  • ISSN: 0098-2571

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Buses; Development; Fuel consumption; Rankine engines; Steam engines; Thermal efficiency; Urban transportation
• Old TRIS Terms: Rankine cycle
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00224374
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 20 1981 12:00AM