Random Video: Electric Cars (1967)

Back in the mid 60’s there was a push for electric cars, with Ford and BMC preparing concepts for the plug-in future that was only 5 years away-

Honda Insight

So do you remember one of the first modern hybrid electric mass produced cars from a big manufacturer? I remember seeing one in “The Day After” and thinking “I’ve not seen one of those in years!!!!” well to my surprise whilst visiting Lancaster University I saw one parked up and it put a proper smile on my face.

BMW 1602e

I was under the naive impression that BMW’s involvement in electric cars was a more recent thing, say the last 20 years or so, but after watching a recent video (see below) I was amazed to find out it first produced one in 1972. Not only that but it had a role in the Olympics of the same year!!!!

AMC Amitron

Like many manufacturers in the US in the late 60’s, AMC took on the challenge by the Government to develop electric vehicles. AMC though really put some resources and effort in to it, the result was the Amitron which was debuted as a  concept in 1967.

BMW i8

We don’t normally have new cars on here, usually due to any car that now goes into production, particularly from a major manufacturer, are styled for mass appeal and mass production. But every now and again something comes along that breaks the mould. The BMW i8 is one such car.

Random Picture: Wagenhals Electric

I love reading old adverts and this one from 1913 just shows that electric vehicles are nothing new.

Enfield 8000

In the late 1960’s Enfield (yes the company that built the bikes) set up Enfield Automotive with the promise of bringing electric cars to the masses in partnership with the Electricity Council. Leading on from the Enfield 465, which had a limited run but was more of a test bed and forerunner to this final production vehicle.  Released in the public in 1973 it was fitted with a 48 volt motor that produced 8bhp was good for 48mph and had a range of 40miles. Add to that its lightweight and seating for four it was the original city car before the term had even been penned.

CityEL

Looking like something out of a Bond film this electric car was built by numerous companies in a few countries over its history. Originally debut in 1987, when it was called the MiniEL this name stuck until 1992. In 1995 with a new German owner the name changed to CityEL. This was no stalled attempt to build an electric car as its still production today.

Cosmic Invader

Built by the iconic car builder Carl Casper, if you don’t know his name you’ll know his work such as the A Team van, the General Lee, K.I.T.T as well as the movie Batmobiles along with a host of hot rods. The Cosmic Invader was a 3 wheeled, battery powered car built in the 1970’s, well with a paint job like that it couldn’t have been built in any other decade. The car, with its 18 six volt batteries, could cruise at 50mph, although if you dropped this to 35mph you’d have a 125 mile range before a recharge was needed. Unfortunately no matter how advanced this car seemed to be, it hit the same problem still here for electric cars, the 8hour recharge!!!!