Concept Car Of The Day: 1967 Ford Comuta - AllCarIndex
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The prototype of an electric City or Shopping Car, the first to be designed and developed by any major motor manufacturer specifically for electric propulsion, was unveiled on June 7, 1967 at Ford of Britain’s Research and Engineering Centre in Dunton, Essex.
The experimental car, known as the Comuta, was only six feet, eight inches long, less than half the length of a Cortina or a Mustang, and was designed to fit three in a normal "meter space." It had a turning circle of 18 feet, no clutch, no gears, and offered "automatic driving."
The Comuta was designed to carry two adults and two children or shopping items. It was equipped with dipping headlamps, anti-burst locks, and a sophisticated heating and cooling system. There was also a battery charge indicator available.
The Comuta had independent suspension on all four wheels, with the rear wheels driven directly by two electric motors.
During the unveiling, Leonard Crossland, Ford of Britain's Assistant Managing Director, mentioned that they expected electric cars to be commercially feasible within the next ten years, primarily for use as city-centre delivery vans and suburban shopping cars. He acknowledged that there were technical challenges to overcome but believed electric cars would have a role in future transportation.
The purpose of Ford of Britain's electric car program was to develop a commercially practical electric car. Crossland emphasized that the Comuta was a prototype and that further performance improvements were needed before considering production.
Ford of Britain planned to build more experimental prototypes to gain experience, including actual road use. The second prototype was scheduled to be shipped to America for development work.
The Comuta had a top speed of 64 km/h and a range of 64 km at 40 km/h. Its dimensions measured at 2032 mm in length and 1422 mm in width.
Overall, the unveiling of the Comuta demonstrated Ford of Britain's commitment to exploring electric propulsion as a commercial possibility and their dedication to developing more advanced electric vehicle technology.
