L'Œuf électrique
{{Infobox automobile
| name = {{lang|fr|L'Œuf électrique}}
| image = Cosmic Egg (42665690074).jpg
| alt =
| manufacturer =
| production =
| designer = Paul Arzens
| class = Concept car
| engine =
| propulsion = Electric
| battery =
| electric_range = 100 km
| length =
| width =
| height =
| weight = 350 kg
}}
{{lang|fr|L'Œuf électrique}} ({{trans|The Electric Egg}}) was a futuristic prototype concept electric cyclecar designed in 1938, and built in 1942 by industrial designer Paul Arzens (1903-1990). It was acquired by the Musée des Arts et Métiers in Paris in 1993, and is currently at the Cité de l'Automobile in Mulhouse in Alsace.{{Cite web |title=L'œuf électrique de Paul Arzens |url=https://www.arts-et-metiers.net/musee/loeuf-electrique-de-paul-arzens |website=www.arts-et-metiers.net |language=fr |access-date=2022-05-31 |archive-date=2022-04-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407190738/https://www.arts-et-metiers.net/musee/loeuf-electrique-de-paul-arzens |url-status=live }}
History
Arzens, a Parisian, and graduate of École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris, designed this futuristic, economical, lightweight electric car prototype in 1938 (along with his concept car La Baleine), then built it in 1942, during World War II.{{Cite web |title=L'Oeuf Electrique de Paul Arzens (1942) |url=https://lautomobileancienne.com/loeuf-electrique-de-paul-arzens-1942/ |website=www.lautomobileancienne.com |language=fr |date=9 November 2015 |access-date=2022-05-31 |archive-date=2020-10-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026072323/https://lautomobileancienne.com/loeuf-electrique-de-paul-arzens-1942/ |url-status=live }}
= Car =
The spherical bodywork, with a fastback rear, is inspired by interwar cyclecars, and the bionic shapes of an egg, a bubble, or a drop of water. The body is aluminum, over a chassis formed from a {{interlanguage link|Duralinox|ca}} tube. The windscreen and doors are made of curved acrylic. Batteries account for most of the car's {{convert|350|kg|lb|adj=on}} weight.{{Cite web |title=L'œuf électrique de Paul Arzens |url=http://www.autocult.fr/2014/loeuf-electrique-de-paul-arzens/ |access-date=28 September 2014 |website=AUTOcult.fr |language=fr |archive-date=6 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141206211528/http://www.autocult.fr/2014/loeuf-electrique-de-paul-arzens/ |url-status=live }}
Paul Arzens - La Baleine et L'Œuf.jpg|Near La Baleine
Donald Duck à Paris (6878086710).jpg|Face view
Paul Arzen Oeuf.JPG|Side view
= Motorisation =
To circumvent fuel rationing during the German military administration in occupied France during World War II, Arzens used an electric motor, which was powered by five 12-volt batteries located under the bench seat. Each battery had a capacity of 250 ampere hours, and weighed {{convert|60|kg|lb}}. The car had a top speed of {{convert|70|km/h|mi/h}}, and a range of {{convert|100|km|mi}}.
After the war, Arzens replaced the electric motor with a {{convert|125|cc|cuin|abbr=on}} Peugeot single-cylinder petrol engine, which produced {{convert|5.5|hp}}. This resulted in an increase in the car's top speed, to {{convert|80|km/h|mi/h}}.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hagerty.com/media/automotive-history/the-electric-egg-was-a-runny-attempt-to-cope-with-wwiis-fuel-crisis/|title=The Electric Egg was a runny attempt to cope with WWII’s fuel crisis|first=Antony|last=Ingram|date=December 23, 2022}}
File:Musée_des_Arts_et_Métiers_052.jpg in Paris]]
Museum
Arzens used {{lang|fr|L'Œuf électrique}} as his personal car until his death in 1990, at which point it was donated to the Musée des Arts et Métiers in Paris, which houses the collection of the Conservatoire national des arts et métiers. As of 2022, the car is at the Cité de l'Automobile in Mulhouse, together with La Baleine.
References
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