I wish I had time to add material.
The Gas-Au-Lec is a very significant car. The article really doesn't get at the tremendous innovation. The GAL did not have a transmission. Transmissions were and are very
heavy and very complex devices. The GAL drove the vehicle with a mechanical
connection between the engine and wheel - up to a certain speed. Then, the driver could
disconnect the mechanical connection and the engine powered an electric
generator which produced electricty which operated an electric motor which
powered the wheels. At high speeds when the electric drive train was used, it was
the same setup that powers "modern" US railroad diesel locomotives. US railroads
are really not modern. Modern railroads use electric power such as almost
every other first-world country. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.125.7.132 (talk) 15:24, 12 February 2014 (UTC)Reply