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- Letter to Clara Ford from Anderson Electric Car Company, 1915 - Surprisingly, Clara Ford -- wife of Henry Ford -- drove an electric car instead of a Ford Model T. Early electrics were often marketed to women because of the cars' cleanliness and ease of operation. Anderson Electric, maker of Mrs. Ford's car, sent this letter hoping she might suggest a few friends interested in buying an electric vehicle.
- April 21, 1915
- Collections - Artifact
Letter to Clara Ford from Anderson Electric Car Company, 1915
Surprisingly, Clara Ford -- wife of Henry Ford -- drove an electric car instead of a Ford Model T. Early electrics were often marketed to women because of the cars' cleanliness and ease of operation. Anderson Electric, maker of Mrs. Ford's car, sent this letter hoping she might suggest a few friends interested in buying an electric vehicle.
- Charging the Battery of a Detroit Electric Automobile, circa 1919 - 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.
- circa 1919
- Collections - Artifact
Charging the Battery of a Detroit Electric Automobile, circa 1919
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.
- Detroit Electric Automobile Chassis, circa 1935 - Detroit Electric was the best-known and longest-lived American electric car company. The firm built its first electric vehicles in 1907, promoting them for use in cities where electricity was readily available and range generally wasn't an issue. Detroit Electric moved away from passenger cars in the 1920s to focus on commercial vehicles. The company ended all production in 1939.
- circa 1935
- Collections - Artifact
Detroit Electric Automobile Chassis, circa 1935
Detroit Electric was the best-known and longest-lived American electric car company. The firm built its first electric vehicles in 1907, promoting them for use in cities where electricity was readily available and range generally wasn't an issue. Detroit Electric moved away from passenger cars in the 1920s to focus on commercial vehicles. The company ended all production in 1939.
- Advertisement from LIFE Magazine for 1910 Detroit Electric Car, "This Battery Will Outwear Your Car" - Detroit Electrics used Edison batteries. Many advertisements, like this one from 1910, used the famous inventor's image and reputation to boost confidence in the car's reliability.
- June 16, 1910
- Collections - Artifact
Advertisement from LIFE Magazine for 1910 Detroit Electric Car, "This Battery Will Outwear Your Car"
Detroit Electrics used Edison batteries. Many advertisements, like this one from 1910, used the famous inventor's image and reputation to boost confidence in the car's reliability.