tarabell
02-16-2007, 01:52 PM
"GM's new Pinto-Vega-looking XP-883 hybrid-drive commuter car," as seen in the pages of Popular Science circa 1969.
http://blog.wired.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/hybridpage01_1.jpg
http://blog.wired.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/hybridpage02_1.jpg
http://blog.wired.com/cars/2007/02/gm_hybrid_circa.html#more
Chuck
09-17-2007, 09:42 PM
Need to bump this up
http://ninja.autobloggreen.com/2007/09/07/gm-could-have-made-a-plug-in-hybrid-car-38-years-ago/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_XP-883
At 35 cubic inches (about 575 cubic centimeters), the engine was small enough to bypass laws of the day mandating emissions control devices like catalytic converters (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalytic_converter). The batteries could be charged using a standard 115 volt wall outlet and could power the vehicle in all-electric mode in city driving. In hybrid mode, it had a maximum speed of 60 miles per hour (97 km/h), which could be reached in 28 seconds. 40 mph (64 km/h) could be attained in 12 seconds. The electric motor powered the car until it reached 10 mph (16 km/h), at which point the gasoline engine would kick in when running in hybrid mode. At cruising speeds, the gasoline engine would normally provide all of the power.
Right Lane Cruiser
09-17-2007, 10:08 PM
That is crazy sad, Chuck. :ccry:
We could have been driving vehicles like that for decades now!!!
Mark Smith
10-28-2007, 10:34 AM
I dont think they would have sold enough to justify the production. Gas was $.23 a gal back then and it was OK to have a car that got 13 mpg. Interesting concept though and thye could sell them in India today.