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Yellow plastic hard hat with solar-powered propeller on top, souvenir from, Knoxville World’s Fair, 1982

Transportation

September 12, 2016 by Joyce Bedi and Alison Oswald

Inventive Minds: Inventing Green features the stories of historic and contemporary inventors whose work on socially-responsible technologies creates profound change for the common good.

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Maglev train

Emile Bachelet

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Emile Bachelet standing next to his model prototype for a maglev train

Emile Bachelet with his prototype maglev train. Emile Bachelet Collection, AC0302-0000001

Emile Bachelet (1863-1946) immigrated to the United States from France in the 1880s. An adept electrician as well as an inventor, Bachelet earned several patents in the early 1900s for electromagnetic therapeutic devices. Around 1910, he applied his knowledge of electromagnetism to inventing a magnetic levitation train, or maglev. He claimed that his “flying train” would be fast, clean, and safe. But maglev trains consume a lot of electricity and require specially built tracks—two significant infrastructure and economic obstacles to their widespread adoption.

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Emile Bachelet demonstrating his maglev train prototype to a group of people in London, 1914

Emile Bachelet demonstrating his maglev train prototype in London, 1914. Emile Bachelet Collection, AC0302-0000008

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Winston Churchill (center right) was one of the guests at Bachelet's maglev demonstration, 1914

Winston Churchill (center right) attended Bachelet's demonstration of his maglev prototype in London, 1914. Emile Bachelet Collection, AC0302-0000026

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Let Us Levitate! cartoon, with joking suggestions for other uses of electromagnetic levitation, 1914

“Let Us Levitate!” cartoon, with joking suggestions for other uses of electromagnetic levitation, The Bystander, London, 27 May 1914. Emile Bachelet Collection, AC0302-0000027

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Cover of The Bachelet Levitated System booklet

The Bachelet Levitated System booklet. Emile Bachelet Collection, AC0302-0000025

EV1 electric car

Paul MacCready

In addition to designing human- and solar-powered aircraft, Paul MacCready (1925–2007) also invented new kinds of electric cars in collaboration with General Motors. MacCready and his company AeroVironment created the GM Sunraycer, a solar-powered car that won a race across the Australian Outback in 1987. Their next project was prototyping an all-electric car for everyday use. The result was the proof-of-concept GM Impact, which made its public debut in 1990. "It helped change people's perceptions about how we can do more with less," MacCready said.

The experience gained from the Impact was put to use in developing GM’s EV1, the first modern all-electric car for the consumer market. Introduced in 1996, the EV1’s aerodynamic shape and advanced power systems made the new car practical, energy efficient, and appealing to consumers. But in 2003 GM abruptly canceled the EV1 program, citing high production costs and a small market. Citizen protests over the EV1’s termination joined a national discussion about the promise of reducing air pollution and dependence on oil with electric cars.

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General Motors Impact electric car fact sheet, 1994, front

General Motors Impact electric car fact sheet, 1994, front. General Motors EV1 Records, AC0912-0000006-01

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General Motors Impact electric car fact sheet, 1994, back. Includes information on dimensions, special features, and modifications

General Motors Impact electric car fact sheet, 1994, back. General Motors EV1 Records, AC0912-0000006-02

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Cover of Daniel and His Electric Car children’s book, 1998. Cartoon image of Mom, Dad, and Daniel charging the EV1.

Daniel and His Electric Car children’s book by Ann Hegnauer, 1998. General Motors EV1 Records, AC0912-0000009

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Folded brochure for General Motors EV1 electric car frequently asked questions, 1998

General Motors EV1 electric car frequently asked questions, 1998. General Motors EV1 Records, AC0912-0000007-02

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EV1 prototype under assembly, 1994. A partial chassis is in the foreground with a car having its outer body assembled is in the mid-ground.

EV1 prototype under assembly, 1994. General Motors EV1 Records, AC0912-0000011

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EV1 product card showing a red car parked on a wide lawn, 1996

EV1 product card, 1996. General Motors EV1 Records, AC0912-0000005-01

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Cover of General Motors Plugged In magazine for children, 1997, showing EV1

General Motors Plugged In magazine for children, 1997. General Motors EV1 Records, AC0912-0000008

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EV1 cutaway diagram, 1996, with car parts labeled

EV1 cutaway diagram, 1996. General Motors EV1 Records, AC0912-0000001

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