SOLVED: WTH # 578 - 1942 Bowker Electric Car w propeller-driven generator

[sixtee5cuda]

For one point, describe the year and make of this tiny, blurry old car

[sixtee5cuda]

Up!

Do the Experts know this one?

[kwgibbs]

looks like a one-off?

[sixtee5cuda]

I believe it is a one-off.  The builder did make at least one other car, previously pictured here in a group puzzle.

[kwgibbs]

is it American?

[sixtee5cuda]

Not from the Americas

[kwgibbs]

british?

[sixtee5cuda]

Not from Britain or Europe

[kwgibbs]

Asia?

[sixtee5cuda]

Not from Asia

[kwgibbs]

Australia?

[sixtee5cuda]

Yes, this car is from Australia.

[kwgibbs]

was it a flying car one-off?

[sixtee5cuda]

Not a flying car.  The propeller is not designed to pull the car along.

[richard cuyler]

Bloke in bowler hat: "S'truth mate, that prop ain't gonna be better than windscreen woipers, no matta what y'say and the whole bloody caaar's made of caaardboard! Whatta you thinkin', mate?!"

[D-type]

Is it a snow blower?

[sixtee5cuda]

Not a snow blower.  I understand Australia doesn't see a lot of snow.

[sixtee5cuda]

Up!

Time for the Professionals to figure this one out.

[oko94]

Is the propeller used as a wind turbine ?

[sixtee5cuda]

The propeller is described as being attached to a generator.  In "theory", it generates energy when the vehicle is slowing down.

[Paul Jaray]

That's one of the 2 Bowker cars.
Built by John E. Bowker from Carnegie, Victoria in 1942

[sixtee5cuda]

And the point goes to Paul Jaray.  The Bowker cars are interesting.  The other Bowker car actually appears in a YouTube video, driving around Victoria.

Original image showing both cars:

[Allan L]

I thought it was going to turn out to be a perpetual motion job - wind of passage drives wind turbine which powers motor to drive it through the air to drive the wind turbine.
Almost as strange in the description as the normal and efficient way to store surplus kinetic energy is a simple generator driven by the wheels - i.e. the traction motor used as a generator. Used on electric trams since the first years of last century!