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- "Henry Ford and Thomas A. Edison Buy the Detroit Electric," 1914 - Detroit Electric was the best-known and longest-lived American electric car company, producing automobiles from 1907-1939. The company marketed its cars to well-to-do customers -- particularly women -- looking for a clean, quiet car in which to take short trips in cities, where electricity was readily available and range wasn't an issue. Detroit Electric buyers included Henry Ford and Thomas Edison.
- March 28, 1914
- Collections - Artifact
"Henry Ford and Thomas A. Edison Buy the Detroit Electric," 1914
Detroit Electric was the best-known and longest-lived American electric car company, producing automobiles from 1907-1939. The company marketed its cars to well-to-do customers -- particularly women -- looking for a clean, quiet car in which to take short trips in cities, where electricity was readily available and range wasn't an issue. Detroit Electric buyers included Henry Ford and Thomas Edison.
- 1990 Sunrunner Solar Car - Students from the University of Michigan built this solar-powered vehicle and won the General Motors Sunrayce -- a 1,640-mile race from Florida to Michigan -- in July 1990. As the top finisher, the Sunrunner earned a trip to Australia to compete in the 1990 World Solar Challenge where it finished in third place.
- 1990
- Collections - Artifact
1990 Sunrunner Solar Car
Students from the University of Michigan built this solar-powered vehicle and won the General Motors Sunrayce -- a 1,640-mile race from Florida to Michigan -- in July 1990. As the top finisher, the Sunrunner earned a trip to Australia to compete in the 1990 World Solar Challenge where it finished in third place.
- Charging Station For Nissan Leaf Automobile, 2011 - As new environmental problems emerged and gas prices rose at the end of the 20th century, electric vehicles seemed viable again. But if electric cars are to be widely used, battery recharging must be convenient. AeroVironment, a California-based company, produced an at-home charging station for Nissan and other electric car manufacturers. This standardized connector and plug are part of that equipment.
- 2011
- Collections - Artifact
Charging Station For Nissan Leaf Automobile, 2011
As new environmental problems emerged and gas prices rose at the end of the 20th century, electric vehicles seemed viable again. But if electric cars are to be widely used, battery recharging must be convenient. AeroVironment, a California-based company, produced an at-home charging station for Nissan and other electric car manufacturers. This standardized connector and plug are part of that equipment.
- Electric Automobiles at the Wayside Inn, Sudbury, Massachusetts, circa 1902 - An 1862 stay at the old Howe Tavern inspired Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's popular poem <em>Tales of a Wayside Inn</em>. For decades, the former stagecoach stop attracted literary fans who nicknamed it Longfellow's Wayside Inn. In 1896, Edward Rivers Lemon purchased the property. He opened the officially renamed Howe Tavern Longfellow's Wayside Inn as a summer retreat for actors, artists, students, and professionals.
- circa 1902
- Collections - Artifact
Electric Automobiles at the Wayside Inn, Sudbury, Massachusetts, circa 1902
An 1862 stay at the old Howe Tavern inspired Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's popular poem Tales of a Wayside Inn. For decades, the former stagecoach stop attracted literary fans who nicknamed it Longfellow's Wayside Inn. In 1896, Edward Rivers Lemon purchased the property. He opened the officially renamed Howe Tavern Longfellow's Wayside Inn as a summer retreat for actors, artists, students, and professionals.
- 1901 Baker Electric Runabout - Walter C. Baker, an engineer from Cleveland, Ohio, partnered with F. Philip Dorn to build an electrically powered automobile in 1897. They organized the Baker Motor Vehicle Company in 1899. The company specialized in electric vehicles and, by 1905, its annual production was approximately 400 cars. Electricity competed against gasoline and steam as a popular power option for early automobiles.
- 1901
- Collections - Artifact
1901 Baker Electric Runabout
Walter C. Baker, an engineer from Cleveland, Ohio, partnered with F. Philip Dorn to build an electrically powered automobile in 1897. They organized the Baker Motor Vehicle Company in 1899. The company specialized in electric vehicles and, by 1905, its annual production was approximately 400 cars. Electricity competed against gasoline and steam as a popular power option for early automobiles.
- Sales Catalog, "The Detroit Electric," 1920 - 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.
- 1920
- Collections - Artifact
Sales Catalog, "The Detroit Electric," 1920
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.
- Edison Electric Runabout, circa 1889 - Thomas Edison had this car built about 1889 to investigate electricity as a power source for automobiles. The three-wheeled vehicle has two electric motors, each separately connected to one of the front wheels. Having successfully operated the car, Edison put it aside for several years. He reactivated the runabout in 1905 to test experimental nickel-iron alkaline batteries.
- circa 1889
- Collections - Artifact
Edison Electric Runabout, circa 1889
Thomas Edison had this car built about 1889 to investigate electricity as a power source for automobiles. The three-wheeled vehicle has two electric motors, each separately connected to one of the front wheels. Having successfully operated the car, Edison put it aside for several years. He reactivated the runabout in 1905 to test experimental nickel-iron alkaline batteries.
- Sales Catalog for Detroit Electric, "Society's Town Car," 1914 - This 1914 catalog for the Detroit Electric used vehicle specifications and colorful illustrations to sell the company's automobiles.
- 1914
- Collections - Artifact
Sales Catalog for Detroit Electric, "Society's Town Car," 1914
This 1914 catalog for the Detroit Electric used vehicle specifications and colorful illustrations to sell the company's automobiles.
- 1901 Riker Torpedo Race Car - Andrew Riker, an early believer in the electric car, designed this battery-powered racer in 1901. He ran it at Coney Island, New York, that November and, at 57.1 miles per hour, set a world speed record for electric cars. It was a triumph for electricity, but Riker soon lost faith. He joined Locomobile the next year and started designing gasoline-powered automobiles.
- 1901
- Collections - Artifact
1901 Riker Torpedo Race Car
Andrew Riker, an early believer in the electric car, designed this battery-powered racer in 1901. He ran it at Coney Island, New York, that November and, at 57.1 miles per hour, set a world speed record for electric cars. It was a triumph for electricity, but Riker soon lost faith. He joined Locomobile the next year and started designing gasoline-powered automobiles.
- Anderson Carriage Company Letter to Customer Henry Ford about His Detroit Electric Car, 1910 - Anderson Carriage Company sent this letter to Henry Ford summarizing the operating costs of his Detroit Electric for the year 1909. Henry Ford purchased three Detroit Electrics, the first in 1908.
- January 21, 1910
- Collections - Artifact
Anderson Carriage Company Letter to Customer Henry Ford about His Detroit Electric Car, 1910
Anderson Carriage Company sent this letter to Henry Ford summarizing the operating costs of his Detroit Electric for the year 1909. Henry Ford purchased three Detroit Electrics, the first in 1908.