Hybrid electric vehicles using a stirling engine

A personal vehicle for transporting a user over a surface, the personal vehicle comprising:

• a. a support for supporting the user;
• b. a ground contacting module having at least one ground contacting member to which the support is mounted, the ground contacting module for suspending the user in the support over the surface, the support and ground contacting module being components of an assembly;
• c. a drive arrangement coupled to the assembly for causing locomotion of the assembly and the user over the surface, the drive arrangement comprising:
• i. an external combustion engine for generating mechanical energy and thermal energy;
• ii. a generator having an output coupled to the external combustion engine, the generator for converting the mechanical energy produced by the external combustion engine to electrical energy that is provided at the output to the assembly;
• iii. an energy storage device coupled to the output of the generator, for storing power provided by the generator and for providing electric power to the external combustion engine and locomotive power to the assembly;
• and
• iv. a drive motor coupled to the energy storage device and the assembly, the drive motor powered entirely by the locomotive power provided by the energy storage device;
• and
• d. a controller, coupled to the drive arrangement, for controlling a total electrical power load placed on the external combustion engine such that short term regulation of external combustion engine temperature is provided.