Stirling Forum Home Page

Greeting from Finland.

Stirlings start slowly, and that's one of the reasons why they don't
manufacture cars with stirlings. I think that it would be more than
easy to install a RF remote starter to the burner that comes with the
keys (like the door opening RF gadget allready does), and while you
walk to the car or finish your morning coffee, push the button and
burner starts heating. The burner could keep the engine hot for a 1
minute and then go off, if the engine wasn't started. Does this make
any sense? Sorry about my fuzzy english...

Teemu Hayrinen

Good suggestion if only....
The principal reason Stirlings are not used in automotive applications is that high HP Stirling engines would be much bulkier that the common ICE currently so widely used. The fuel supply would have to be capable of supplying the high temperatures required for a real power capable engine. A secondary factor is that Stirlings usually run at high rpms and are not suited to the variable speed demands of automotive use.

I am under the impression that at leat one brand of auto sold in the US has a remote start, via the key holder, for use in cold weather.