Alternate Fuel Challenge 1970

[Falcon Ranchero]

What if I told you all these cars in the photo didn’t run on gasoline. Not one. These cars either run on electricity, steam, and other forms of energy. I guess in 1970 200 entrepreneuring students were involved in some sort of alternative fuel challenge so these cars were used as experimental vehicles to pilot new fuel ideas. Not much info I could find online, this photo came from a picture book I just got. Would be cool to know what some of the vehicles run on and the groups that made them.

[iamsuperdan]

Very cool. I wonder where these vehicles are now. And if they were tested and worked out long term.

 

Do this now and...ugh. Just imagine how these people would be treated. 

[johnyrotten]

Cool stuff, must have been kicked off around the "gas crunch" time being the 70's. A bit before my time.  Funny how people forget things and think its a new idea. Some of the first "cars" were electric. I'm surprised propane isn't used more, but like everything it has it's pros and cons. The hydrogen thing is interesting. To me, alternative fuel means alcohol, or if you wanna get serious, nitromethane. Somebody once said gas is for cleaning parts,alcohol for drinking, and nitro for racing. 

[peteski]

Electric cars go even back much further in time.  Here are some examples:

 

And this is my favorite.

There are many more examples. Just look for "early 20th Century electric cars".

Edited January 2 by peteski

[rattle can man]

During WWII Europe had some vehicles that ran on coal gas. Coal gas powered Vehicles.

Some countries did have large scale conversion of vehicles to cheaper and less polluting propane or LPG.  Then they increased the tax on the LPG/ propane a few years later, taking away the cost advantage and incentive to use something cleaner burning.

[1972coronet]

18 hours ago, johnyrotten said:

Cool stuff, must have been kicked off around the "gas crunch" time being the 70's.

First gas (not diesel) crunch was from late October 1973 - March 1974. Then again from 1979 - 1980. 

I've got my eyes on that two-tone Duster : EW1 white with FE5 red painted roof with matching interior !

[Falcon Ranchero]

3 hours ago, 1972coronet said:

EW1 white with FE5 red painted roof with matching interior !

Yeah I noticed that one too; there's also a '70 Coronet, a couple of '70 Mustangs, a '70 El Camino, and a '70 Ranchero. Basically muscle cars but remember, none of those cars in the photo run on gas. Doin' that to a muscle car today would be a crime