Electric Car Conversion: The Amazing 75-MPG Hybrid Car

By Robert W. Marshall
Published on July 1, 1979
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The car's exterior and its curb weight remain virtually unchanged.
The car's exterior and its curb weight remain virtually unchanged.
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The lawnmower engine and all the electrical components necessary for the conversion fit comfortably in what was the Opel's engine compartment. 
The lawnmower engine and all the electrical components necessary for the conversion fit comfortably in what was the Opel's engine compartment. 
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In the aftermath of its electric car conversion, this Opel GT could get up to 75 miles per gallon.
In the aftermath of its electric car conversion, this Opel GT could get up to 75 miles per gallon.
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Diagram shows the layout of the new drive system.
Diagram shows the layout of the new drive system.

With the price of gasoline already out of sight, just about everyone is scrambling for a way to squeeze the last possible drop of energy from each precious gallon. However, David Arthurs of Springdale, Ark. probably couldn’t care less. He has designed and built a car that can travel 75 miles or more on just four quarts of the expensive liquid!

What’s his secret? Electric car conversion; Dave took a standard gasoline-powered Opel GT and turned it into a hybrid electric car. The car is driven by an electric motor whose  “juice” comes courtesy of an ordinary, fuel-stingy lawn-mower engine! Now the fact that the system works isn’t really surprising. What’s amazing is that the crossbreed hookup performs so well! According to David, the Opel has not only a virtually unlimited range (when driven prudently), but also a top speed of 90 miles per hour. And it emits a minimum of pollutants as it tools along the highway. Better yet, the car can–if need be–run on its batteries alone for short in-town hops. It will never be “stranded” as long as there’s fuel in the “on board” generator!

(Learn more about our Hybrid Car Blueprints.)

World War II Technology

Mr. Arthurs is the first to admit that there’s nothing “new” to the system he’s developed. In fact, all the technology incorporated into his design has been available for about 35 years, just waiting for someone to put two and two together and make the whole thing work. “I began researching the idea for a hybrid electric auto about a year ago. There wasn’t much information to be found on the subject, so I designed a system from scratch. In about a month’s evening-and-weekend time, I had the car finished and running.”

Surprisingly enough, the project didn’t cost a fortune, either. Because the vehicle’s components are either standard “off the shelf” hardware or available as reasonably priced military surplus, the conversion to “hybrid drive” only set Dave back about $1,500. By the same token, any necessary replacement parts are easily obtainable, and a good deal of the equipment can be “scrounged” rather than purchased new.

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