Hybrid electric car (15-Oct-1974)

In the hybrid electric car disclosed, a generator driven by a heat engine turns a motor which moves the vehicle. A main circuit controls the motor with power from the generator. The main circuit includes a first thyristor and relay contact for connecting the main circuit and the battery in series with each other or in parallel with each other and a commutation circuit that operates as a chopper. A second thyristor passes the energy from the generator to the motor in the form of pulses. A switch-over circuit opens the relay contact on the basis of the relationship between the degree to which the accelerator pedal is depressed and the motor speed so as to connect the main battery and the generator in series. An output ratio control circuit turns the two thyristors on so that the generator and main battery outputs are supplied to the motor together. The output of the battery is varied by the first thyristor in response to the degree to which the accelerator pedal is depressed.