News Room
Feb.15.2012
Alternative Energy Vehicles Exhibit March 2 - May 27, 2012
Hershey, PA (February 15, 2012). The Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Museum will begin 2012 by “going green” with an Alternative Energy Vehicle Exhibition. The focus will be on both old and new alternative fuel vehicles including: electric, coal and steam hybrids with a display featuring more than a dozen unique vehicles.
Electric cars and hybrids are all the rage today with the movement toward a cleaner environment and the crippling cost of gasoline. What most people don’t know is that these technologies have been around as long as the automobile itself. In the car’s formative period, electricity went head to head with steam and the internal combustion engine as countless manufacturers competed for market share in this burgeoning new industry.
This exhibition will look at the entire history of automobile propulsion beyond the internal combustion engine. Included will be early steam and electric vehicles, plus newer variants produced later in the century. We are also focusing on other “alternative energy” vehicles produced over the years, including wood burners, and other “converted” machines. The exhibition will enter the 21st century with select modern vehicles that aim to offer everything from high mileage, performance, comfort and low emissions all in one affordable package.
There will be 12-15 different cars and trucks on display using various types of power. Exhibit vehicles will include cars, trucks and even segways. Vehicles begin in 1899 and continue through 2012 and will include the following: 1899 Crouch, 1902 Stanley Stick-Seat Runabout, 1903 Northern,1908 Studebaker (congressional vehicle),1909 Stanley Steamer,1912 Rauch & Lang Edison Electric,1912 Baker Electric,1930 Col. Green’s unique 1930 Stearns-Knight Hybrid,1938 Walker Dynamotive – Model 500 Gas/Electric Power Milk Truck, 1956 Coal-Powered Citroen,1976 Citi Car, 2012 Fisker Karma – (March 2-10 ONLY), Segways.
The 2012 Fisker Karma was named AUTOMOBILE Magazine’s 2012 Design of the year. The Fisker Karma premium luxury sedan is the brainchild of Henrick Fisker, the designer, responsible for such modern standouts as the BMW Z8 and Aston martin DB9. The Karma sedan is a technology leader that offers a unique combination of world class styling and performance, and the lowest emissions of nearly any production car. These vehicles are highly sought after and we’re fortunate to be able to display one from March 2 -10, 2012. Additional days may be added based upon availability, please refer to our website for updates.
The 1908 Studebaker electric is a 12 passenger vehicle that was used by the Federal Government to take people from the House to the Senate, and from the Senate to the House, via an underground tunnel. This car appears to have two front ends, which would make it seem natural to be driving it forward or reverse. Studebaker opened its doors in 1852 producing electric carriage bodies for taxis. In1896, Studebaker decided to start producing cars for the public, also electric, because gas and steam is dangerous and noisy. Their electric cars went on sale in 1902, and in that year they sold 20 cars. The Electric Studebaker was on sale from 1902-1912. This unique vehicle is currently on loan from the Swigart Museum in Huntingdon, PA.
The AACA Museum has fostered a restoration educational partnership with the Pennsylvania College of Technology located in Williamsport, PA. The students have completed a number of restoration projects on Museum vehicles. As an extension of this partnership the students will have on display their electric powered Camaro Drag car with a special video display explaining this car.
Take a look at the other cars we will have during the show.
About the Antique Automobile Club of America Museum:
The Antique Automobile Club of America Museum, a member of the Smithsonian Institute Affiliations Program, displays beautifully restored automobiles, buses and motorcycles in unique life-like scenes representing the 1900’s – 1970’s in a cross-country journey from New York to San Francisco. The AACA Museum, a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, is one of the nation’s newest and largest automotive museums. Special exhibits change several times a year and focus on a variety of eras and types of vehicles. The AACA Museum is located just off Route 39, one mile west of Hersheypark Drive in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Regular admission $10, seniors age 61 and older $9, juniors age 4-12 $7, children age 3 and under are FREE. The Museum is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and select evening hours during the summer months. For further information, please call 717-566-7100 or visit www.aacamuseum.org.
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