Wouk organized a company, Beta Electric, and in 1956, sold it only to form a new one, the Electronic Energy Conversion Corporation (EECC).
[3] The running prototype was a 1969 Rambler American station wagon converted from AMC's gasoline 290 cu in (4.8 L) V8 engine, to an all-electric car.
[4] Power consisted of 160 Gulton nickel–cadmium batteries, each rated at 75 ampere hours, and controlled through Wouk designed electronics.
[7] The experiments with the Rambler American convinced Wouk that battery problems were not going to be solved easily to satisfy consumers.
[8] The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established a "Clean Car Incentive Program" that funded innovative designs from the auto industry and inventors.
[8] Wouk's idea to create a hybrid car was approved in 1971, and the EPA was "to consider a nationwide test of vehicles based on his design if satisfied with the prototype.
The second modern hybrid car marketed to consumers was the Toyota Prius (the first was the Honda Insight), which was based on principles similar to Wouk's.