Back to the Past: The History of Hybrids

Yeah, I bet you their NAV system wasn't as good --------

"Hey Earl! Which road leads ta' town?"

"I don't know Cletis. I think it's the one with the big rock on the side"

 

No, the Nav system just pops up with "Ye can't get theah from heah".

 

Great article, jkash.

I had only known about the Woods 1917 hybrid car; I had no idea there were others!

 

I saw it too. Great documentary. Really great at showing the history of the hybrid.

BTW, I didn't know there were hybrids the early 1900's. That's pretty cool.

 

I found this article on Google... I think I was ripped off..note the MSRP of this car...haha

There are three cars still around... for the Detroit club there is a car at the Ford Museum...

Also for the Los Angeles club, there is one at the Petersen Automotive Museum..

Woods Dual Power
A gasoline-electric hybrid — from 1917?
by Tara Mello (2000-01-03)


As we head into the 2000s, many scientists and analysts deem gasoline-electric hybrids such as the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius as the most forward-thinking vehicles of the day. Touted as the most viable solution currently to the environmental issues, these "gaso-lectrics" offer what some see as the best of both worlds.

Ironically, these "gaso-lectrics" aren't a new invention. The gasoline-electric hybrid has been around since the early 1900s. The Woods Motor Vehicle Company of Chicago introduced its Dual Power model in 1916, promoting it in its sales brochure to the "man or woman who has owned either gas or electric cars or both and found them inadequate because of complications and limitations."

Driving simplicity was the key to the Woods Dual Power. It could be controlled with just a single foot pedal, and did not require gear shifting. The driver used two "finger levers" on the steering wheel, to operate each power source and to set the maximum speed, and then used a single pedal to accelerate and brake. Once the levers were set, power was the either the gas engine or electric motor through the propeller shaft to the rear axle - without the use of a clutch or other gearing.

How did the two sources of propulsion work together? The gasoline engine and the electric motor were connected through the use of a magnetic clutch, which allowed the gas engine to become magnetized when the gas finger lever was set near full retard of the flywheel. The magnetic force pulled a copper disk against the flywheel, connecting the electric motor to the gasoline engine. As a result, the vehicle could be operated on electric power only, on gasoline only or on both simultaneously. When traveling in reverse, the electric motor was used, as the gasoline engine only powered the vehicle in one direction due to the lack of gears.

To start the car using the electric motor, the driver simply moved the electric finger lever, which connected the storage battery with the electric motor. The Exide battery used in the Woods Dual Power was specifically designed for the vehicle and was about half the size of the batteries used in other electric vehicles of the time. Once the vehicle was started, the lever was advanced, increasing the speed of up to 20 mph. To travel at higher speeds, the driver engaged the gasoline lever, which connected the two power sources, running both the gasoline engine and the electric motor at the same time.

Through adjustment of the two finger levers, the battery could be discharged or recharged during driving at speeds of ten to 30 mph. Recharging was accomplished with the gasoline engine being used to power the electric motor which, once retarded, acted as a generator. Recharging of the electric motor also took place at speeds over 6 mph, by braking on level ground or when coasting down hills, when adjusting the lever. A conventional brake pedal was only used at speeds of less than 6 mph.

:mrgreen:

The aluminum-bodied Woods Dual Power was offered only in a coupe model, accommodating four passengers, for $2,650, with wire wheels available for $25 extra. Special paint and trim was offered for an extra $100.

An unrestored Woods Dual Power is on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. It is one of only three Woods Dual Power vehicles known to be in existence.

 

Cool. It'd be neat to go see one.

 

[Broken External Image]:http://info.detnews.com/dn/joyrides/2000/oldcar00/16woods.jpg

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