Abstract: The invention is a vehicle for ground transportation that is an aerodynamic shell attached to wheels. The aerodynamic shell is shaped according to airship technology and is elevated such that air flow around the shell is like air flow would be for that shell in flight. The elevation is accomplished with attached structure and attached wheels. Wheels at each side of the vehicle are arranged in wheel trains that are filled in and streamlined to form secondary aerodynamic units, with space between wheels used for equipment. The invention requires changing the position of the engine from its usual place that is low and at the front of the vehicle to a very different position that is high and at the rear of the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention is a vehicle for ground operation that is an aerodynamic shell attached to wheels. The aerodynamic shell is shaped according to aircraft technology and it is elevated such that air flow around that shell is like air flow would be for that shell in flight. Elevation is accomplished by the attaching structure. Wheels at each side of the vehicle are arranged in wheel trains that are filled in and streamlined to form secondary aerodynamic units, with space between wheels used for equipment. This minimizes objects that would interfere with air flow. Special stability issues arise due to the resulting higher center of gravity of the elevated vehicle. These issues are addressed by significantly rearranging conventional vehicles. The result is a collection of novel vehicles such as trucks, automobiles, and buses that offer the benefit of large reductions in energy usage.

Abstract: The invention is a hybrid wheel apparatus with a hybrid roadway apparatus that greatly reduces the energy lost due to rolling resistance where operation is on the hybrid roadway, but the system is configured to allow operation on conventional roads as needed. The hybrid wheel system is a steel wheel used in combination with a rubber tired wheel. The hybrid roadway is a low profile steel rail fixed to the otherwise conventional road surface, which is preferably concrete but could also be the very common asphalt composition. Where roadways are appropriately equipped with rails, the rail top surface is elevated over the roadway surface, and dimensions are set so that most of load force is carried on the steel wheel for general forward travel. Where the rail is absent the load is carried on the rubber tire, and the steel wheel is elevated above the roadway surface such that contact between the steel wheel and the roadway is prevented.

Abstract: Here is invented an efficient road vehicles having special aerodynamic shapes, with stabilizing devices that enable aerodynamic efficiency. It is an articulated vehicle that is tall and narrow. It includes a carriage part that encloses a driver and passenger riding in tandem. This car is only wide enough for persons seated in single file, so it has very low projected frontal area compared with typical cars. Further, the narrow width makes a body shaped like an airship practical, where that shape is characterized by a very low drag coefficient in free flow conditions. The carriage is elevated on struts to enable such free flow aerodynamic conditions, thus the drag coefficient of the airship is made applicable to this road vehicle. Because this car has both low frontal area and low drag coefficient it will require minimal energy for high speed operation.

Abstract: The invention is a hybrid wheel apparatus with a hybrid roadway apparatus that greatly reduces the energy lost due to rolling resistance where operation is on the hybrid roadway, but the system is configured to allow operation on conventional roads as needed. The hybrid wheel system is a steel wheel used in combination with a rubber tired wheel. The hybrid roadway is a low profile steel rail fixed to the otherwise conventional road surface, which is preferably concrete but could also be the very common asphalt composition. Where roadways are appropriately equipped with rails, the rail top surface is elevated over the roadway surface, and dimensions are set so that most of load force is carried on the steel wheel for general forward travel. Where the rail is absent the load is carried on the rubber tire, and the steel wheel is elevated above the roadway surface such that contact between the steel wheel and the roadway is prevented.

Abstract: An electric power generating system is arranged such that the system efficiency approaches 100%. In the context of this special arrangement, system efficiency is defined as the electrical energy produced divided by the amount of heat energy allocated to its production. All heat energy that is not converted to electric energy is completely used by an associated household. However, high efficiency requires that heat usage by the household is not increased as a result of this arrangement. Unlike most electric power generation, heat is not wasted, so there is no inefficiency. The motor vehicle includes an electric generator driven by a heat engine, with an optional natural gas connection to the household. The heat from the exhaust and the engine coolant is connected to household devices that make full use of that heat. As needed, operation of the heat engine is regulated such that heat discharge rate does not exceed the rate at which household devices can use that heat.

Abstract: Here invented are efficient road vehicles having special aerodynamic shapes, with stabilizing devices that enable aerodynamic efficiency. An embodiment is a articulated vehicle that is tall and narrow. It includes a carriage part that encloses a driver and passenger riding in tandem. This car is only wide enough for persons seated in single file, so it has very low projected frontal area compared with typical cars. Further, the narrow width makes a body shaped like an airship practical, where that shape is characterized by a very low drag coefficient in free flow conditions. Since this body is elevated on struts to enable such free flow aerodynamic conditions, the drag coefficient of the airship is made applicable to this road vehicle. Because this car has both low frontal area and low drag coefficient it will require minimal energy for high speed operation.