PEV 2009: 1916 Woods Dual Power Model 44 Coupe hybrid on display
1916 Woods Dual Power Model 44 Coupe - Click above for high-res image gallery
At the Business of Plugging In expo in Detroit last week, attendees were treated to a bit of history in the shape of the 1916 Woods Dual Power Model 44 Coupe. This car was moved by both a set of batteries that powered an electric motor and a gasoline-drinking 4-cylinder internal combustion engine. Wikipedia tell us that the silent electric powertrain moved the car unti it got to 15 mph, and that the gas engine took over up to the Coupe's top speed of around 35 mph.
The man behind Woods Motor Vehicle Co. – and the previous company, American Electric – was Clinton Edgar Woods who "wrote the first book on electric vehicles." Woods Motor Vehicle Co. was founded in 1899 and built 30 models, including pure electric vehicles and these dual power vehicles between 1911 and 1918. The hybrids cost around $2,700.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sean C 5:54PM (10/28/2009)
It's inspiring what 100 years of innovations will get you huh? (wink wink)
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nrb 11:55PM (10/28/2009)
ABG, enough with the crap journalism. Everyone knows Toyota invented the hybrid.
/s
That's a seriously cool vehicle.
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Mark Kiernan 4:19AM (10/29/2009)
Very good tech for 100 years ago, and further down we have BMW charging people for a crap Mini EV.
Come on automakers can't we improve on a car with 100 years under its belt?
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len simpson 11:22AM (10/29/2009)
2700 in 09 $'s ???
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amtoro 12:51PM (10/30/2009)
Around $52,800 (or a Volt...)
Bill Dale 5:19PM (10/31/2009)
A 1917 Woods hybrid vehicle is also on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, for those in this area of the country that would like to see one. There are other fascinating alternative vehicles, including a (gutted, non-operating) GM EV-1. Apparently, GM was proud of their baby, but not so proud of it that they would leave it in working condition before donating it to the Petersen.
http://www.petersen.org/default.cfm?docid=1052
I attended the gala launch party of the Phoenix Motorcars EV at the Petersen Museum in February 2007, if I recall correctly, and about a year later I put a large deposit down to secure the first privately-owned Phoenix off of their assembly line. Then earlier this year, they filed for bankruptcy. I thought that was the end.
But a few weeks ago, I was notified that one of the major shareholders had put up the cash to take it out of bankruptcy and put everything back in order, including my reservation for that first Phoenix EV. Within the next two weeks, watch for an announcement from Phoenix of their emergence from BK and their plans for resuming business. Not much will change, but the vehicle will be somewhat different-- I don't want to steal their thunder, get the details from them.
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