Lanchester petrol-electric car

Lanchester petrol-electric car

F W Lanchester's prototype petrol-electric car 1927, at Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum
Overview
Type Prototype petrol-electric hybrid
Manufacturer Lanchester Motor Company
Model years 1927 (1927)
Designer Frederick W. Lanchester

The Lanchester petrol-electric car is a protype motor vehicle, designed in 1927 by Frederick W. Lanchester of the Lanchester Motor Company in his workshop in Birmingham, England. It is now on display in Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum.[1][2]

The term "petrol-electric" denotes that the car was a hybrid vehicle, with both a petrol engine, at the rear, and an electric motor.[1] The later was used for starting, reversing, and when extra power was needed, for example for climbing hills.[1] When traveling at speed, under petrol power, the electric motor acted as a generator, charging the battery.[1] The car has no clutch or gearbox.[1] The body and suspension are both made of wood.[1]

The design never went into production.[3] After it had been driven for only 757 miles (1,218 km), Lanchester abandoned the project.[1]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lanchester petrol-electric car.
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Britain falls in love with the motorcar (2)". Birmingham Stories. Birmingham Museums Trust. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  2. Accession number: 1961S01404
  3. "Britain falls in love with the motorcar (1)". Birmingham Stories. Birmingham Museums Trust. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
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