Electric CArs Are In Our Blood : Blog : GE Global Research

Electric cars are in our blood

Charles Theurer, editor
Software Sciences and Analytics
Niskayuna, NY USA
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Hello again! I looked up from my computer today to take a look at the history of one of the major projects we are working on at Global Research– electrification of the world. Here is what I found. What is really interesting is that I believe this video was filmed when the car was being driven to our Global Research campus for the 2008 Battery Symposium that we hosted.

It is a video of a restored Edison Electric car, located in our hometown of Schenectady, NY at the Edison Exploratorium.

It had a 26 volt GE Automobile Motor Patent 1889.

Here is the Charging Station (That is a slate circuit board!!!)

June 25th, 2010 | Software Sciences & Analytics

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While one would think that someone representing GE would know how to read a patent plate. Sure, it was first patented in 1889, but if you look at the last patent date (after several subsequent updates) it shows 1903. Perhaps it was patented in the future? Also, it shows this motor to be 48 volts and a RPM of 1980. Too bad the rest of the left side is obscured.

rocket scientist | 6/26/10, 12:28 AM

you say its 26 volts, but the boilerplate clearly says 48 volts. what gives?

peter | 6/26/10, 9:31 AM

Tag on the Motor says its 48 Volts

John O | 6/26/10, 7:24 PM

I was thinking about how to extend the power and range of an electric vehicle since one of the impediments to mass adoption is the current lack of a charging infrastructure. What if you start with a fully charged battery-operated vehicle. Then add a second battery for extended power and range. Then add an inline generator like we have in current cars to recharge the battery. The car would run off battery A but would be charging battery B at the same time. When battery A is depleted, the car would switch to battery B. Lets say that with a full charge battery A has a range of 200 miles and that the generator will charge battery B with a 75% charge. The vehicle alternates power sources, constantly using one and charging the other. If you lost 25% of the original power with each recharge, you would still end up with a 500 mile range (200+150+100+50) and that is more than with two charged batteries. I would call this tandem power creation “co-generation”. Not in the current sense of creating power and heat, but in using the cars own electric power to create more.

Cary Goldner | 6/27/10, 5:04 AM

please more fotos!!!!!!

Scart | 6/27/10, 10:15 AM

Rocket Scientist,
Ouch! No seriously good catch. I am not sure but I believe the different dates represent the patent dates of different technology components that are included in the motor design. If someone else has an idea or really wants to know, I can spend a couple of minutes down with our patent attorneys to uncover the real truth. Below is a link to the page that I found the pictures and some of the descriptions. I have to say, dates aside, the fact that this car existed more than 100 years ago is very exciting to those of us in GE who are working toward an electric car future! We are a passionate bunch of geeks and love to see this kind of thing in our history!

-Charles

http://www.edisontechcenter.org/ElectricCars.html

Charles | 6/28/10, 1:55 PM