Electric cars - the vehicles of the future? 1967

Electric Comuta car being driven out of workshop in Essex. C/U interior of the Comuta showing upholstery. M/S young lady stepping into the driving seat. M/S young lady being shown controls of the Comuta. C/U hand moving small lever on the dashboard. M/S of the young lady releasing the hand brake. C/U young lady's feet on pedals. Comuta drives towards camera, camera pans. Travelling shot of the Comuta car going along roadway. C/U young lady driving car, pan to steering wheel. C/U speedometer showing 25 mph. Travelling shot of the Comuta.

Engineer Alistair Carter sitting at desk with model of the "Coaster" electric on desk at his offices in Tamworth, Staffordshire. C/U Mr. Carter. C/U model of the Coaster. C/U Mr. Carter, with model of car in foreground. C/U showing the wheel on the office desk and the breaking unit which goes inside it before being placed inside the wheel. C/U the Coaster as it drives away from camera. C/U interior of the Coaster being driven by Mr. C. with a woman passenger. The Coaster comes towards camera and passes. C/U steering wheel of Coaster. Panning shot of the Coaster.

Interior L/S of British Motor Corporation (BMC) offices at Longbridge, Birmingham. M/S car designer Alec Issigonis walking up to drawing board. C/U Issigonis at drawing board. C/U Issigonis sketching rough design of electric car. C/U Issigonis sketching.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• electric
• car
• vehicle
• transport
• pathe

[Odziz]

Well it looks like Israel will be after their partnership with Renault and Nissan. Check out the YouTube videos

[terrorist420x]

The 1974 McKee Sundancer, also Exide Sundancer, did 0-60 mph in 12 seconds, 65 mph top speed, 60 miles range at 60 mph, 80 miles range EPA highway cycle, and used a 72V pack of Trojan T145 golf cart batteries. It seat two adults and weighed 1600 lbs. The CVT kept is at peak power during acceleration.

This was possible then and far better is possible today!

[Odziz]

In 109 the Baker Electric had a range of 110miles at 25mph.

In 1932 the Detroit Electric had a range of 70miles at 28 mph.

In 1974 the Exide Sundancer had a range of 60miles at 60 mph.

Is history going backwards or not ?

[petronius68]

40 years later and we're still not there!!!!

what a pathetic reflection on the human race.

[oldtilter]

Big oil doesn't like EV's so we have become EVangelists

[CWINDOWSsystem32]

@Odziz

Now, In 2011, the Tesla Roadster has a range of 240+ miles and a top speed of 125 mph.

[LVL60Beltran]

damn, imagine what the world would be like if people didnt decide to do so many drugs during the 70s and 80s

[DeLorean4]

@badnewswade According to a MovieTone news reel of the era, the Ford Comuta was only supposed to cost between 300 and 450£. What makes the failure of this car doubly worse is that after the development of a sodium-sulfur battery, it would have gotten a very impressive 300 mile range.

[andyz85]

bp kills human advancement

[ramblergarage]

that is a cute little car

[oliverburke]

I'm impressed at how that designer sketched those few lines so deftly.

Nowadays a young techie would do that on a laptop smaller than that sketchpad, and almost as light.

I remember "sketching" :)

Still plays some part, I'm sure, but less.

That electric car "factory" (or wing) may not have survived 1967-70?

They'll begin cranking 'em out soon enough :)

[garagecrap]

They made movies like this in 60's, they making them now, they will make them in the future and there still will not be decent electric car to replace petrol ones.

[antiLeixo]

"Wheel hub electric motor was invented by Frenchman Charles Theryc and patented in 1896 as US patent 572,036 entitled Wheel with Electric Motor hub for Vehicles."

[Membrane556]

Didn't know the integrated hub motor was such an old idea.

But making electric cars glorified golf carts probably has hindered their wide spread adoption nearly as much as the antics of big oil.

In reality an electric car can be made to match or even beat an internal combustion vehicle in performance.

I think Tesla motors has the right idea in that the glorified golf cart image has to go.