Before GM or Toyota, the Woods Motor Vehicle Company of Chicago introduced the groundbreaking 1917 Woods Dual Power, a pioneering gas-electric hybrid. Addressing the limitations of early gasoline engines (roughness) and electric cars (limited range), Woods aimed to deliver a vehicle offering the best of both worlds. This full hybrid featured regenerative braking, a parallel hybrid system integrating a 12-hp, 4-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric drivetrain. The electric motor could propel the car up to 20 mph, and combined with the gasoline engine, the vehicle reached speeds of up to 35 mph.
The gasoline and electric engines connected via a magnetic clutch. Activating the gasoline engine (via a driver-controlled lever) magnetized the engine, pulling a copper disk against the flywheel and linking it to the electric motor. In reverse, only the electric motor functioned because the gasoline engine lacked a clutch and gears.
The car’s battery was about half the size of those in contemporary electric cars. Above 20 mph, the gasoline engine could engage, allowing both motors to work together. A lever controlled battery charging and discharging. The gasoline motor recharged the battery above 6 mph or during braking on level ground or downhill coasting. A conventional brake pedal was used only below 6 mph.
Priced at $2650 in 1917 (equivalent to over $60,000 today), options included wire wheels for an extra $25 and custom paint/trim for $100.
Despite its innovation, the Woods Dual Power faced commercial failure, with production limited to 1917 and 1918. High cost, slow speeds, and difficult servicing hindered its success.