Editing AMC Gremlin (section)

== Experimental cars ==
The Gremlin proved a popular [[testbed]] for experiments with alternative fuels. Many universities converted them to run on [[natural gas]], [[hydrogen]], and [[electric]] power.

=== Hydrogen ===
In 1972 [[University of California, Los Angeles]] researchers won a nationwide Urban Vehicle Design Competition when they modified a 1972 AMC Gremlin to run on hydrogen. The lessons learned are still useful today.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.engineer.ucla.edu/explore/history/major-research-highlights/ucla-hydrogen-powered-car-wins-1972-urban-vehicle-design-competition/ |title=UCLA Hydrogen Powered Car Wins 1972 Urban Vehicle Design Competition |publisher=Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science History |access-date=June 27, 2014 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20120801030903/http://www.engineer.ucla.edu/explore/history/major-research-highlights/ucla-hydrogen-powered-car-wins-1972-urban-vehicle-design-competition/ |archive-date=August 1, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The engine was a converted Ford {{convert|351|CID|L|1|abbr=on}} V8 noted for its [[volumetric efficiency]]. Lacking sophisticated electronics and [[Fuel injection|injection systems]], the [[carburetor]] was a modified [[propane]] unit and the {{convert|100|L|usgal|1|adj=on}} [[vacuum flask|"thermos"-type]] hydrogen tank gave the Gremlin a range of {{convert|160|mi|km|0}}.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Peterson |first=William L. |magazine=Popular Mechanics |title=They plan to win with hydrogen |date=August 1972 |volume=138 |issue=2 |pages=40–42 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=NNQDAAAAMBAJ&q=UCLA%20Gremlin&pg=PA40 |access-date=June 27, 2014}}</ref> Tests indicated that the car would not only meet the scheduled 1976 vehicle [[United States emission standards]], but also actually emit slightly cleaner air than it took in.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.engineer.ucla.edu/explore/history/ucla-engineering-timelines/1965-1974/?searchterm=Gremlin |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110716201155/http://www.engineer.ucla.edu/explore/history/ucla-engineering-timelines/1965-1974/?searchterm=Gremlin |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |title=UCLA Engineering Timelines 1965 - 1974 |publisher=Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science History |access-date=June 27, 2014 }}</ref> As part of the 1972 Urban Vehicle Design Competition, UCLA engineering students also enlarged the side glass area above the rear wheels for improved visibility, designed a roll cage which projected through the Gremlin's roof to double as a roof rack, and designed 5 MPH bumpers with an environmentally-friendly energy-absorbing popcorn core, covered with a recycled-tire tread surface.<ref>{{cite book|chapter-url= http://papers.sae.org/730513/ |chapter=Results of 1972 Urban Vehicle Design Competition |publisher=SAE International |doi=10.4271/730513 |access-date=July 15, 2014| title=SAE Technical Paper Series |year=1973 |last1=McCuen |first1=Charles M. |last2=Matthews |first2=M. Scott |volume=1 }}</ref> In 1984, UCLA's first hydrogen-powered car was sold for one dollar to the [[William F. Harrah]] Automobile Museum in [[Reno, Nevada]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.engineer.ucla.edu/explore/history/ucla-engineering-timelines/1975-1984/?searchterm=Gremlin |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110716201207/http://www.engineer.ucla.edu/explore/history/ucla-engineering-timelines/1975-1984/?searchterm=Gremlin |archive-date= July 16, 2011 |title=UCLA Engineering Timelines 1975 - 1984 |publisher= Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science History |access-date=June 27, 2014 }}</ref> In 2010, the car was available on an auction site.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Abuelsamid |first1=Sam |title=eBay Find of the Day: Hydrogen-powered 1972 AMC Gremlin by George Barris |url= https://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/27/ebay-find-of-the-day-hydrogen-powered-1972-amc-gremlin-by-georg/ |work=Autoblog |access-date=12 November 2018 |date=27 May 2010}}</ref>

=== Alternative fuels ===
Other experiments used AMC Gremlins. To evaluate non-[[petroleum]] fuel and measure mechanical wear under mostly short city driving, a 1970 Gremlin with AMC's {{convert|232|CID|L|1|abbr=on}} engine operated successfully on [[methanol]] for ten years and {{convert|46250|mi|km|0}}.<ref>{{cite book |title=Proceedings of the IV International Symposium on Alcohol Fuels Technology, volume 2 |year=1981 |publisher=Instituto de Pesquisas Technológicas do Estado de Sâo Paulo |page=655 }}</ref>

The broadest range of fuel tests were conducted by the [[United States Department of Energy]] (DOE) labs in [[Bartlesville, Oklahoma]]. Engineers estimated the performance and fuel economy of 1977 Gremlin Xs operating on ordinary [[gasoline]], a variety of wide boiling range fuels ([[naphtha]], [[kerosene]], etc.), as well as two alcohols, [[Ethanol fuel|ethanol]] and [[Methanol fuel|methanol]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Ruppenthal |first=Karl M. |title=Energy for transportation: its availability, its cost, and its conservation |year=1981 |publisher=Centre for Transportation Studies, University of British Columbia |page=91 |isbn=978-0-919804-26-5}}</ref>

=== Electric ===
[[File:Seattle City Light Superintendent Gordon Vickery with prototype electric car, 1973 (34772918810).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Seattle City Light]] Superintendent Gordon Vickery at [[charging station]] for the electric Gremlin]]

The [[Apollo Energy Systems#AMC conversions|Electric Fuel Propulsion Company (EFP)]] of [[Ferndale, Michigan]], produced a number of electric cars including the AMC Gremlin based, two-passenger '''X-144'''. Introduced in 1973 it featured a {{convert|20|hp|kW|0}} [[direct current]] motor fueled by a 144-volt [[cobalt]]-[[lead]] [[Rechargeable battery|storage batteries]] designed to reduce the formation of harmful gases during recharging, as well as a regular 12-volt battery to operate the cars lights, horn, and heater blower.<ref>{{cite book |last1=De Waard |first1=E. John |first2=Aaron E. |last2=Klein |title=Electric Cars |year=1977 |publisher=Doubleday |isbn=978-0-385-00962-1 |page=[https://archive.org/details/electriccars0000dewa/page/68 68] |url= https://archive.org/details/electriccars0000dewa/page/68 }}</ref> Performance was claimed to be similar to a base gasoline Gremlin, including a top speed of {{convert|60|mph|0}}, but with a calculated lower cost per mile for the X-144 over five years and {{convert|20000|mi|km|0}} of use.<ref>{{cite book|last=Reardon |first=William A. |title=The energy and resource conservation aspects of electric vehicle utilization for the City of Seattle |year=1973 |publisher=Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories |pages=27–28 |chapter=Electric car versus the present }}</ref>

Inventor "Cotton" Whatley of [[Wichita Falls, Texas]], offered an unknown number of modified electric Gremlins for sale through various dealerships between 1973 and 1978. Whatley's Gremlin Electric had a top speed of {{convert|50|mph|0}} and a maximum range of {{convert|50|mi|km|0}}.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Knight |first1=Bridget |title=Gremlin Electric died with its namesake car |url= http://www.timesrecordnews.com/topstories/back-in-the-day-gremlin-electric-died-with-its-namesake-car-2898277b-217f-103c-e053-0100007f37a5-366555361.html |agency=Times Record News |date=26 January 2016 |access-date=17 November 2017}}</ref>