This short clip reel shows visionary electric vehicles from the late 1970s. First, a prototype built by EAC, the Electric Auto Corporation, which emerged around 1980, at the height of America’s second gas crisis.EAC built the Silver Volt, a plug-in hybrid based on a contemporary Buick station wagon—16 years before the GM EV1. At (:50), a Bell System electric van is shown. This was one of hundreds produced by GMC for AT&T in 1979. These zero emission vans were evaluated in the Bell System’s service fleet; it’s unclear how the test results were assessed. At (2:09) company chairman Jon Samuel of EAC is seen being interviewed; unfortunately the audio for this interview has been lost. According to an online reference, a prototype limousine vehicle manufactured by EAC had a top speed of 70-mph and a cruising range of 120 miles at 30 mph, and had an on-board auxiliary engine for recharging batteries and running the accessories and air conditioning. It used a cobalt lead battery and could travel 300 miles on a single charge. Unfortunately, EAC could not secure financing for production and the company ceased to exist shortly after this footage was shot.

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com