We talk a lot about MPG efficiency. Here's a comment by a former Studebaker Lark owner, as well as some history about Studebaker's forward-thinking electric vehicle - introduced 100-plus years ago.
"Back in 1960, I bought a Studebaker Lark V/8 and it delivered 28 miles per gallon. The cost? $1,950. Nowadays that wouldn't pay the taxes on these overpriced and overrated imported
wheel twirlers."
Read the comment about the Studebaker Lark in the Daily Record.
Little do people know that Studebaker created electric vehicles. "The Studebaker Electric was an automobile produced by the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company of South Bend, Indiana, a forerunner of the Studebaker Corporation. The battery-powered cars were sold from 1902 to 1912."
"By 1912, it became conventional wisdom that the future lay in gasoline-powered engines rather than heavy, sluggish electrics, and the limited production of electric cars stopped. An official announcement from the newly re-incorporated Studebaker Corporation stated: The production of electric automobiles at South Bend has ended. . . It has been conducted for nine years without much success, and ultimately the superiority of the gasoline car (is) apparent."
Read the article about the Studebaker Electric here.
Photo below of a 1902 Studebaker Electric Victoria Phaeton. Source: RemarkableCars.com
Sunday, December 19, 2010
The Studebaker; Now That Was a Car
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Avanti to Enertia - 100mpg
An interesting redux of the Avanti ...
From http://www.enertiamotors.com:
After 20+ years of dealing with fuel-free heating and cooling and household electricity, we turn our attention to transportation - the last remaining piece of the environmental and self-sufficiency puzzle.
Enertia cars are diesel hybrid electric. They are plug-in hybrids with a biodiesel generator on board to extend the range. Combined with the Enertia Home photovoltaic smart garage, it may be possible to achieve the bulk of your transportation needs with no fuel at all.
The Enertia™ car is being built with several goals in mind:
- It has to travel at up to at least 100 mph.
- It has to travel 100 miles on one gallon of fuel.
- It has to be reproducible and marketable (people have to WANT it).
See the full Enertia Motors car project website.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
1950 MPG Test Run - TIME Magazine
Again proving that Studebaker was way ahead of its time...
Monday, Feb. 27, 1950
"On a basis of gasoline mileage alone, the Studebaker Champion placed first with 26.551 miles to the gallon, the sweepstakes-winning Mercury second with 26.524 mi., and a Nash Ambassador third with 26.424 mi. Next, in order of ranking: Nash Statesman, 25.522 m.p.g.; Studebaker Land Cruiser, 24.887; Kaiser Special, 23.946; Frazer Manhattan, 23.907; Studebaker Commander, 23-794; Ford 6, 23.326; Cadillac 61, 22.972; Cadillac 62, 22.525; Cadillac 60, 22.080; Hudson Commodore, 21.386; Plymouth, 21.254; Chevrolet, 21.071."
See the full article on TIME.
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