Woods Motor Vehicle

Woods Motor Vehicle Company was an American manufacturer of electric automobiles in Chicago, Illinois, between 1899[1] and 1916. In 1915 they produced the Dual Power (U.S. Patent # 1244045) with both electric and internal combustion engines and this continued until 1918.

Woods Motor Vehicle Company
IndustryAutomotive
Fatewent out of business
Founded28 September 1899
FounderClinton Edgar Woods
Headquarters
Chicago, Illinois
,
U.S.
ProductsAutomobiles
1906 Woods Queen Victoria Electric

The company was started by Clinton Edgar Woods who literally "wrote the first book on electric vehicles."[2]

Picture of Woods Electric Vehicles at May 1899 Electric show

The 1904 Woods Stanhope was a stanhope model. It could seat 2 passengers and sold for US$1800. Twin electric motors, situated at the rear of the car, produced 2.5 hp (1.9 kW) each. The car weighed 2650 lb (1202 kg) with a 40 cell battery.

The 1904 Woods Victoria was a carriage-styled model. It could seat 2 passengers and sold for US$1900. The same twin electric motors as the Stanhope were used, though a 4-speed transmission was fitted. The car weighed 2,700 pounds (1,200 kg). 40 batteries were also used, with an 18 mph (29 km/h) top speed.

Founding

The Woods Motor Vehicle Company was founded on the 28th of September 1899 with a capitalization of $10,000,000. It was incorporated under the laws of New Jersey. It assumed the patents of the Fischer Equipment Company of Chicago and a factory at 110-120 East Twentieth St., Chicago with plans to upgrade another facility at 547 Wabash Avenue in Chicago for another factory. Frederick Nichols of Toronto, Canada, was installed as the first president and C.E. Woods was installed as one of the company's directors. [3] [4]

Early hybrid

At $2,700, The Dual Power Model 44 Coupe of 1911 to 1918 had a 4-cylinder internal combustion engine as well as electric power. Below 15 mph (24 km/h) the car was electric powered and above it the conventional engine took over to take the vehicle to a maximum of around 35 mph (56 km/h). It is today considered a historic hybrid electric vehicle.

Patents

See also

Other Early Electric Vehicles

References
  • Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly (January, 1904)
  1. "Woods Motor Vehicle Company". The Crittenden Automotive Library. Retrieved March 26, 2008.
  2. Woods, Clinton Edgar (1900). The Electric Automobile. Chicago: H.S. Stone & Co.
  3. "Secures Fisher Patents". The Morning Call. September 30, 1899.
  4. "For a Big Motor Plant". Chicago Tribune. September 28, 1899.


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