1980 Hybrid Concept Car

In 1980, the Briggs & Stratton Corp. introduced its plug-in, hybrid concept car stating, "we are all seeing our personal mobility threatened by rising petroleum prices and dwindling resources.

The fundamental appeal of electric cars is that they allow us to use energy sources other than petroleum on the road." The B&S car used a parallel hybrid system which allowed the owner to choose between gas, electric power, or both; a concept that has been borrowed by the Hybrid cars of today.

The 1980 March edition of Motor Trend Magazine found "the car's plug-in, electric-only range was between 30 and 60 miles, enough for many people to commute to and from work without using the gas motor. In hybrid mode, the car's range was about 200 miles."

The car appeared strange though, due to its 6-wheeled design. The weight of the batteries required extra support so 2 extra wheels were added to the address the problem. The car was built with little consideration for safety, the batteries were so heavy they could come hurtling toward the driver in the event of a crash. The B&S concept car had other problems as well--it was disturbingly loud due to its internal mechanical processes.

However, the B&S concept car was an important project for the Hybrid car industry. It's design concepts were improved upon to make more efficient Hybrid models. Although the "Green" movement is a prominent facet of today, its stirrings can be seen in projects like this.

Posted By: Jessica Lantz


Sources:

Carney, Dan . (June 1, 2007). Lawnmower-Engine MakerOnce Had the Lead in Hybrids. In The Wall Street Journal Online. Retrieved October 25, 2009, from http://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB117932740689804953.html.

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