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Abstract

An apparatus for economical travel and minimization of atmospheric degradation by internal combustion exhaust products. A car which has, in combination, a heat engine driving a set of front wheels, storage batteries and an electric motor driving a set of rear wheels. There is also a system for selecting electric or heat engine drive either manually or automatically and a single accelerator for controlling either mode of drive. A battery charging system supplies a constant power charge rate. Battery charging power is derived from the electric motors acting as generators driven by the rear wheels while the vehicle is in heat engine drive, and the battery charging rate is selected by the operator. Also in combination is a regenerative braking system to recover expended energy in the form of vehicle motion and an overdrive system to increase vehicle speed in the electric drive mode by field weakening. Protective systems are included to prevent overcharge of the storage batteries and to provide safe closing at high speeds of the electric clutches connecting the electric motors to the rear wheels. Changeover from electric drive to heat engine drive is simplified by a changeover system, and excessive loading of the heat engine by the battery charging system is eliminated on hills and during acceleration by a hill and acceleration sensing system. The car is designed for low speed and stop and go driving powered by the electric motors while the heat engine may be used for high speed and long distance travel.

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First Claim