brucedp5 via EV wrote:
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/03/29/lost-and-found-overflow-that-time-mr-rogers-visited-a-mystery-ev-builder/comment-page-1/
Lost and Found overflow: that time Mr. Rogers visited a mystery EV builder
March 29, 2019 Daniel Strohl
after watching the segment, we’re left scratching our heads over which EV
manufacturer Rogers actually visited.
Here’s the basics: In episode 1478, which originally aired in February 1981,
Rogers visits what he describes as a friend’s garage after showing off a
model of an electric car.
He takes a ride to the garage in a blocky electric pickup with a guy named
Paul, then at the garage itself meets his friend, Wayne.
Wayne explains that the cars are built from steel tubing with fiberglass
bodies.
He also shows off a completed chassis with batteries and drivetrain, and
lets Mister Rogers (you try calling him just Fred) turn the steering wheel.
Mister Rogers then gets a chance to take the pickup for a drive with Paul.
So, of course, as automotive history enthusiasts, we need to know everything
we can about Wayne and the electric vehicles he’s building
That's Wayne Goldman, and his company was Electric Vehicle Engineering
Inc. Mailing address was PO Box 1, Lexington MA 02173, facilities at 9
Y.D. Road, Bedford MA 01730, phone (617) 275-0995. They operated from
about 1975-1982. They built quite a number of prototypes and
limited-production EVs. I met Wayne and bought an EV kit from him.
The EV’s drivetrain layout is unique enough to serve as a clue as well.
this one uses a big motor and 18 6-volt batteries to power the front wheels
via a small coupler, a center differential (possibly from a Corvette, just
flipped upside down?), and a coil-sprung double-wishbone front suspension.
Most of his vehicles used an 8HP or 20HP GE series motors. The
differential was made by Dana. Front suspension and brakes were from a
Saab 96. The batteries were contained in a central roll-out tray for
easy servicing.
Take note of the bare van-style body and chassis in the background; that
may be the key to the company’s identity. By chance, we came across mention
of Electro Motion Transportation Systems
My impression from Wayne was that Electro-Motion was an earlier version
of the company. One of their vehicles was the "Islander", with a very
similar chassis and fiberglass body. They also made one with a Myers
"Manx" dune buggy body. In 1975, they got a contract from the US Post
Office to build some prototype postal delivery vans. Electric Vehicle
Engineering was created as a separate company to fill that contract.
That's the unfinished blocky body you see in the background in one of
the photos.
That said, we’ve found zero other mentions of Electro Motion, Electric
Vehicle Industries, or Electric Vehicle Engineering. Nothing on how long
they lasted, how many vehicles they built, or who Wayne and Paul are.
I don't recognize Paul, but the other guy is Wayne Goldman.
Anybody out there recognize this obscure bit of electric vehicle history?
[© hemmings.com]
I have perhaps 20-30 pages of documentation on them, including a tape
recorded interview with Wayne. Bruce, do you have the contact
information for Daniel Strohl at Hemmings?
--
Fools ignore complexity. Pragmatists suffer it. The wise avoid it.
Geniuses remove it. -- Alan Perlis, "Epigrams on Programming"
--
Lee Hart, 814 8th Ave N, Sartell MN 56377, www.sunrise-ev.com
_______________________________________________
UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub
http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org
Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
