UPDATE – Our own Russ Davis featured this 1968 Mars II EV last summer and it’s for sale again here on craigslist in Junction City, Oregon with a lower asking price of $5,500. Thanks to local_sheriff for sending in this updated tip!
FROM 8/19/2020 – Long before the hybrid and other cars with some degree of voltage power, electric cars were being put into limited service 50 or 60 years ago. One such attempt was the MARS II produced by a Michigan-based company using Renault R-10s as donors. One of less than 50 produced, this MARS II is located in Eugene, Oregon where it may have been first commissioned there by the local utility authority. It’s available here on craigslist for $5,800. A shout out to Barn Finds reader Andria Antonakos for passing this one along.
Apparently reworked Renaults made good prospects for turning into electric cars. The MARS I and MARS II vehicles (can’t find what those acronyms stood for) were produced by Michigan-based Electric Fuel Propulsion. We understand they were the impetus for a string of five fast-charge stations at hotels off I-94 between Chicago and Detroit. The MARS II was based on a 1968 Renault R-10 and production estimates range from between just 42 and 47 units.
The seller’s MARS II is said to have been purchased by Eugene, Oregon’s local electric utility (EWEB). The cars were supposed to have a maximum speed of 60 mph, a driving range of 70-120 miles on a charge, and they could be recharged to 80 percent of capacity in under an hour. We’re told this car has all its original equipment still intact. The MARS II is powered by at least 18 X 6-volt batteries as I can count them. One of the claims to fame, supposedly, for the MARS II is its mechanical controlling board that set the stage for electronic controllers in later generations of electric cars. The MARS II is a 120-volt system and has a tri-polar, lead-cobalt battery and regenerative braking-system that work together.
This is not the first time this car has changed hands. Back in 2005, an electric car enthusiast named Craig Huber had the car up on his web site. You can tell it’s the same vehicle as to the small rusty dent up by the trunk on the driver’s side is in place for both 2020 and 2005 photos. Also, the photos show a completely different set of batteries between the two-time frames, so perhaps the car was a runner at one point. It does not run now, and a trailer will be required to take it away.
Finally, this is not the first one of these cars that have appeared on Barn Finds. One materialized in Sweden in 2018 and it was reviewed by us at that time. Please click here for that story.
Nah, why bother, I’d much rather have a stock R-10. I live in a rural setting, and electric cars will NEVER replace good ol’ gas.It’s the freakin’ batteries we just can’t get past. I talked to a guy in town that has an electric VW Bug conversion. I think an outfit out of Denver made a bunch. While he thought it a novel idea, the Bug has just as many batteries, and he said range is the biggest problem, maybe 40 miles in “slow” speed.. For in town, it’s adequate, but he’s afraid to take it out of town. He said, at 55 mph, the charge drops dramatically. Just stop at one of the “charging stations”, you say? Well, here’s this on that. They started putting up charging stations, that look like gas pumps in our town. 4 so far. Takes a couple hours to charge a car, can you imagine if hundreds of electric cars needed a charge at the same time? Sorry, until they release the “miracle chunk of energy” to power our cars ( probably already in a warehouse in Tucson), electric cars will just be a fad, nothing more. They’ve been trying for 120 years. Going to take a lot more for rural driving to replace gas.
You are right, Battery technology is here (Tesla has its own factory) Lead acid is very old tech, dating back to the late 1800s…heavy and no range. Lithium ion has been suppressed by the oil companies … nothing bigger than a cell phone battery (again Tesla said FU we will make them ourself) Until those batteries are readily available and brushless motors are , the range will be limited. Here’s a thought to bridge the gap Put solar panels on the roof and a small Honda or similar generator in the trunk and your range will double or triple and you wont be stuck .
The trunk is full of (probably dead) batteries. About that: just what exactly is going to happen to all those used-up lead-acid and lithium ion batteries at the end of their life cycle? Whatever it is, it’s going to involve a lot of energy
Impressive tech for ’68! Didn’t know regenerative braking was a thing then,.
I knew electric cars dated back to the 1890’s- but after checking Wikipedia, I was surprised to learn they go back nearly 200 years- Copied:
In 1828, Ányos Jedlik invented an early type of electric motor, and created a small model car powered by his new motor. Between 1832 and 1839, Scottish inventor Robert Anderson also invented a crude electric carriage.[8] In 1835, Professor Sibrandus Stratingh of Groningen, the Netherlands and his assistant Christopher Becker from Germany also created a small-scale electric car, powered by non-rechargeable primary cells.[9]
Nice car! As I said before, we’re not
ready for transcontinental trips in an EV,
but we can use them to zip around town
running errands or to your nearest car
show where you will be, no doubt, the center of attention. Here in hurricane
country, a car like this would be great to
have when gas hits $10 a gallon after the storm passes. Just add solar panels to a car cover and you have your
charging system should the storm take
out the grid. About the re-gen braking,
that was a surprise to me too. Looks like MARS had it covered even 50+ years
ago. Now if they’ll just get the bugs out
of self driving system, I’d have it made.
Mars needs extension cords……
Another forgotten electric Renault was the Dauphine Henney Kilowatt. Don’t know much about them but would rather have my stock 845 cc water-cooled Dauphine with its 27 rompin’ stompin’ horsepower! True economy car for 1961 with four doors, 40 mpg, and EASY to maintain!
Ever notice the Dauphine “gills” located where the rear doors meet the rear fender? That’s where the air comes in for the radiator which is located directly behind the back seat. Now we all know where the designers of the Ferrari Testa Rossa got the idea from!
My dauphine was rebuilt with the Gordini upgrade to 55hp!! Yay…
Does a guy with a name Cobra Steve actually have a Renault Dauphine? My dad had one when I was about 12, we loved to go around switching the Town and Country horn for fun. Dad ordered a wet cylinder, pistons, rings and gasket set from JC Whitney for about $29 that I helped put together. At one time he had 3 R10s- I thought they were great cars- comfortable seats, 50mpg on a trip from Montgomery, al to North east corner of North Carolina when he retired from Air Force in 74. You might find the stainless wheel covers in the woods where one of them melted away. Just remembered, there is still a spare engine I saw in the garage last October when I visited my bro that lives in parents old house near kitty hawk. I’ve seen some original dauphines and 10s go for pretty good money on Ebay the last few years
I’m currently getting a Dauphine back on the road. Engine professionally rebuilt to Gordini specs… from 33hp to a whopping 55, had a bit of a brake issue … the former owner told me it would need brake work and when I removed the 3lug wheel there was a cut hose and nothing else. Not sure where the horn is or the button for that matter, push button automatic. Never had one before so this is an experience.
My twin brother and I purchased our first car together, a Renault Dauphine for $200 I believe. We were in high school and it got us there and back. As you can imagine, nothing fancy, but it did climb the SF hills fairly well. Anyway, when we both got summer and subsequent part time jobs, we sold it and my twin purchased an R10…new if I remember correctly. Certainly not the fastest thing on the road, but it was definitely dependable. I remember the seats as being the most comfortable I ever sat on. My brother liked it because you could fold the front seats down and they matted perfectly to the back seat. In other words, a queen sized bed. There was guy in our SF neighborhood who had one and put an Alfa twin cam in his. I can’t imagine the handling! I’ve read about these and they are definitely rare. Still, you couldn’t get me to purchase an electric car today let alone one with 1968 technology.
My uncle had a Renault 10 that he loved. He drove it for many years until brake parts became impossible to find.
A guy I know has a 190? electric car, wooden frame, open car, but he has retro fitted a modern motor, charging system and LIFEPO4 batteries, best thing is when he plugs it in at a supermarket charging point !
And even in the 1960’s, Railway Express, a predecessor of UPS, had a fleet of electric delivery vans which spent the night at Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station, plugged in, and the days, in congested traffic, delivering around the city.
Friends have a Tesla 3, the least expensive one, and drive it about 1800 miles each way, from CA to MN, and have had no problem with recharging it, in the Rockies or on the Great Plains. It takes a bit more planning than with a gas or diesel car, but, the charger network is well established.
As with all the EVs you have to factor in the overnight motel/hotel stops to recharge the damn things so an across country trip could take ages as well as cost a hell of lot more. Give me gas or diesel any day, simple, effective and we’ve been doing it for quite some time now and it still works fine !!
Studies show the public’s “range anxiety ” dissappears at the 300 mile range. The new electrics introduced in the next 2 years will have that covered. Amazing how batteries and tech is improving at such a high rate.
If you ever get the chance, go drive the all electric Chevrolet Bolt EV. It’s a blast to drive! Batteries down low, if course, so it handles well. Sport mode is the way to go. Loved the lever on the steering wheel for regenitive braking, also.
Great article on these, always love how BF expands my breadth of automotive knowledge!
I do love my Chevrolet big blocks, and the exhaust sounds they make, though.
They had an EV charging station in the parking lot of the Wal-Mart in Vinita Oklahoma. I never saw anyone use it. There were cobwebs on the handles.
Mind that truck that cropped up a few years ago? Picked up rolls of paper from the railway station and brought them to the print works. Glass jar batteries.
Seeing this car I can see why it’s taken over 50 years for electric-powered cars to come into their own.
When working at Saturn of Alhambra back in the day, I had the chance to drive a GM EV1. It was a good looking, comfy and seemingly well made car, but even then the range was the problem. I am convinced they have developed mind boggling battery technology at NASA in the meantime and are keeping it off the market until it´s deemed the time is right. How else does one explain the functioning of space vehicles which perform well seemingly forever?
You nailed it Columbo….
It could also be the amount of our $$$$ that is spent on space vehicles too….maybe that has something to do with it.
I read recently about a new battery that puts the lithium-ion battery to shame. Wish I could either remember the type, or where I read about it. It’s supposed to be smaller, lighter, more powerful and able to be recharged in just a few minutes instead of several hours. Coupled with the new electric motors, I believe electric vehicles will become more popular, especially with city dwellers with their relatively short commutes. I live rural, 20 miles to the nearest WalMart (that’s how we rural dwellers are describing our lifestyle now I guess) so it’ll be gasoline or diesel for me for the foreseeable future.
We had the car w/the 4 cyl. Dolphin, simca 1000, fiat 124, etc for the mommie-mobile or ‘kid buss’ (only 2 of us). All seemed a lill roomier (& 4dor) than the tweed coat w/elbow leathers crowd (veedub) drove.
I’d go 4 the EV if ina modern rig. Y’all seen me rant abt need for support (infrastructurefor them & R&D investment). So I’m behind/supportive ’em. Well, as long as I can keep the ’70 bronk for DD & fun…
Had one of these cars that was a gift from a staff member of Lehigh Univ. I recall something like “get this thing outa my garage” .. it had power company stickers all over, and an electric meter behind the rear seat package tray if I recall. Springs were way beyong stock stiffness to accomodate the gawdawful weight of batteries. As luck would have it, I swapped the drive train from my other R10 (hehe .. had 2!) that I had just rolled over in a fit of inverted sports driving. I had to let it go for a song in 1986 or so in beltsville maryland. Wonder what ever came of it! 1289 CC engine that Haynes quipped “Thrived on harsh usage”- haha… It did .. had a 2 BBL Holley from a Pinto! Love the rear engine watercooled layout.