Patent ID: 6179078
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: B60K,Y02T

Abstract:
An automotive vehicle having a chassis, at least one front wheel, and first and second laterally opposed drive wheels mounted upon a stationary axle disposed orthogonally to the direction of vehicle motion, said vehicle further comprising:a) brake drums affixed to said drive wheels in facing relationship,b) wheel sprockets fixedly mounted on said brake drums and a drive chain engaging each of said wheel sprockets,c) a primary internal combustion engine having a rotating output shaft coupled by a continuously variable ratio first torque converter to the drive chain associated with said first drive wheel to impart forward propulsive movement to said vehicle,d) a secondary internal combustion engine having a rotating output shaft coupled by a continuously variable ratio second torque converter to the drive chain associated with said second drive wheel to augment the forward propulsive movement provided by said primary engine,e) pedals associated with said chassis for selectively activating either said primary engine by itself or both engines at once, andf) an electric motor coupled to one of said drive wheels in a manner to impart reverse movement to said vehicle.