Forget about the Focus EV. Ford’s first attempt at a modern electric car debuted at the 1967 Geneva Motor show, and it foreshadowed the next four decades of EV development.
Dubbed the Comuta, the prototype was Ford’s first stab at battery-powered propulsion since Henry Ford and Thomas Edison worked on an EV back in 1913. It could comfortably seat two adults and two children, and had a top speed of 40 mph with a range of 40 miles if driven at 25 mph– not bad for 43 years ago, and still a decent range for a modern NEV.
When the folks at Gizmag dug up an archival photo of the concept, we were just as amused as the lady in the picture (above) and just had to find out more about the tiny Ford EV that never was. So we contacted Ford’s archivists, who were kind enough to provide photos and press releases about the vehicle’s original debut.
It turns out it was a concept developed by Ford of Britain. Heritage Fleet director (we love that title) John Nevill tells us the concept’s rear wheels were driven by dual DC electric motors that put out 3.7kW and were originally designed as aircraft auxiliary units. Power came from four mid-mounted 12 volt lead acid batteries.
At six feet, eight inches long, it was less than half the length of a contemporary Cortina or Mustang and could fit three to a parking space. It had a “sophisticated” heating and cooling system, and a battery charge meter was optional. Ford advertised the vehicle as a city car with a turning radius of 18 feet and “automatic driving” without a transmission.
At the vehicle’s unveiling, Ford of Britain’s then-assistant managing director Leonard Crossland — later Ford chairman Sir Leonard Crossland — said that similar cars would be hitting the road by the mid-1970s, and that was before any hint of an oil crisis. “We expect electric cars to be commercially feasible within the next ten years although we believe their uses will be primarily as city-center delivery vans and suburban shopping cars,” he said.
“The internal combustion engine will continue to be the most practical form of power for long distance and motorway driving, but we are sure that electric cars will have a part to play in meeting some future transportation needs,” Crossland continued. The “practical, little experimental car” needed better batteries, he said. “And, as you know, a great deal of effort is being put into more advanced battery technology.” The more things change…
According to Nevill, only two Comutas were built and one still exists at the Science Museum in London, alongside other feats of British engineering including Sinclair computers, Avro aircraft and early steam engines.
Even though the styling screams, “Honey, I shrunk the Econoline!” down to the ten inch “dog dish” wheels, we imagine its retro lines might make a cute Cube competitor on the Fiesta platform.
Photos: Ford
No comments:
Post a Comment