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BACK | | Britain falls in love with the motorcar
Frederick Lanchester's unusual design |
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The engine was in the rear compartment of the car | © Thinktank Trust | Come and see it in the Move It gallery at Thinktank
Lanchester disliked the jerking caused by changing gear when accelerating. So this prototype provides a smooth ride by dispensing with the clutch and gearbox.
Boosted by the electric motor, the petrol engine accelerates gently. At a speed of 10 mph the motor should be switched off. It then acts as a generator re-charging the battery that powers it. The motor is also used for reversing and providing extra power for climbing hills. Like the earlier prototypes wood was used for the body and suspension to keep costs down. It only clocked up 757 miles. BACK to story |
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What was the Petrol-Electric car like to drive? |
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