Honda's New Steam-Powered Hybrid Engine
Honda has just unveiled a concept car using a so-called Rankine cycle co-generation unit to power a hybrid engine. The engine recycles wasted heat from the exhaust to generate steam that turns a turbine-generating electricity, which charges the batteries. The concept has proven more efficient than the regenerative breaking system employed by most current hybrid cars, including the Prius, especially when cruising at highway speeds.
The concept is not entirely new, and Honda claims that at 62 miles-per-hour the new engine is 3.8 percent more efficient than past versions. Apparently, the engine is currently not efficient enough (not to mention too expensive) to merit being installed in a production vehicle, but Honda has said that this may change if it can can make the engine even more efficient.
From Engadget
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