Charging the Battery of a Detroit Electric Automobile, circa 1919

Summary

Electric automobiles offered advantages over early internal combustion engine cars. They were clean and quiet. They were also relatively easy to operate, with no hand crank needed to start them and no gears to shift. But batteries were expensive and required several hours to recharge. And, though electricity was readily available in cities, rural electrification wasn't widespread until the 1940s.

Electric automobiles offered advantages over early internal combustion engine cars. They were clean and quiet. They were also relatively easy to operate, with no hand crank needed to start them and no gears to shift. But batteries were expensive and required several hours to recharge. And, though electricity was readily available in cities, rural electrification wasn't widespread until the 1940s.

Artifact

Photographic print

Date Made

circa 1919

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

00.1802.2

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Gelatin silver process

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 8 in

Width: 10 in

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