While digging around on eBay, looking for EV1 brochures I don't have, I ran across this ad. The 1969 GM Stir-Lec 1 hybrid. This is a new one on me, so I dug around and found a couple of pics. Interesting.
And people don't like the amount of cargo space loss in hybrids today. As an external combustion engine, a Sterling could have cleaner emissions than an ICE, and also potentially more efficient. They share a trait with fuel cells in that their response to power demands is slow. That's why the Stir-Lec I is a series hybrid. The battery is used just like the one in a FCEV. It is a buffer between the engine or fuel cell output and the driver's demands. Stirling engine - Wikipedia
The real hurdle was the massive lead-acid batteries. The bare bones concept is no different than the Prius. Use the most efficient engine possible. Then add a motor and battery to compensate for what that engine lacks in performance to make it acceptable for the buyer. Do you like it enough to pay $3000 for just it? That's the converted price for it in Japan.
No idea, since solar on a car makes less sense in the US than elsewhere, I don't pay it much attention. The $3000 for the solar roof in Japan will cover 800+kW of home solar in the US.
