EV from 1904 still silently cruising the streets
You know that Gram Parsons song "100 Years From Now"? The opening lyrics are "100 years from this day / Will the people still feel this way / And keep saying the things that they're / saying right now?" I thought of these words (and Gram's smooth voice) when I saw this video clip of a 1904 Baker electric two-seater electric vehicle that is driving around. The car's owner, Lew Miller, says that the car runs as well today as it did the day it was built, and it's never been in the shop. You can watch the two-minute video clip of the EV here, but only for the next month. After that, you'll probably have to search YouTube or something. We won't be able to find out for a while, but I'd like to see how the Tesla Roadster holds up 100 years from now.
[Source: The Auto Channel]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Diana 7:31AM (8/09/2006)
It makes you wonder - if they could make a car like that back THEN, & it's still running, & in such wonderful shape today - then WHY can't they produce cars like that TODAY? We've obviously had the technology for many, many years - a full century! I would also like to see the USA become more fuel-economically minded & press for clean air. Good article!
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Richard Nixon 7:32AM (8/09/2006)
Do a search for NIKOLA TESLA.... His electric car..etc.
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Jesse Raya 8:05AM (8/09/2006)
I wonder why these kinds of cars are not on the market today. Sometimes I feel stuff like this isn't mass produced because money in other areas of theyre companies would be lost and other factories may be out of business. The thing is with gas prices and everything else the way they are the company who comes out first with this type of car would definately be on top. Not everybody wants electric cars, so the market for gas fueled vehicles will still be there. I am sure there is some sort of contract between car manufacturers to not release something like this, till a certain year or something like that. I am still wondering how long the government is going to hold the cure for AIDS. They will probably hold out till everybody poor has it before they release the cure which will be so expensive that only millionaires can get it. That means there will be no us and them, only the living and the soon to be dead.
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David McIntosh 8:31AM (8/09/2006)
if competition is good for the economy & I believe that it is, then why, in gods name why are there not automtive engines produced that can run on a variety of fuels such as propane, diesel, gasoline, greenfuel, willie fuel, ethanol, or even electric, I know the technology exists, in the form of a honda generater that runs off of different fuels simply by flipping a switch, I personally would not mind as much paying a jigher price fora gallon of fuel if was produced in america, & created more jobs for more americans, but as long as the chief lawmakers of this nation as an interest in the price of gas, then oil prices will continue to climb, it is time for a change.
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Michelle 8:33AM (8/09/2006)
One word, GREED!!!
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Greg 8:35AM (8/09/2006)
There is no question electric technology is and has been viable since the very invention of automobiles. The reasons we don't flock to electric cars, however, are hard to overcome:
1. Limited range. Most electric cars have a range of 20 miles or so before they need to be recharged. Many of us drive less than that to work, but would have to "plug in" once we get there. Currently, (except in North Dakota) most employers don't provide plug ins for their employees!
2. Air conditioning. The enormous drain on electrical power to run an air conditioning unit would make these cars impractical in every state... except North Dakota (they have the plug ins anyway, I say "pilot state")
3. Heaters. Again, electric drain. This would force drivers to use artificial heat substitutes (read VODKA), thereby creating a driving state not that different from Russia.
4. Infrastructure for longer trips. Just as we have a gazillion gas stations, we'd need gazillions of electric stations. Not hard, just run an extension cord out to the existing pumps. However, having to sit at the station for several hours while you recharge would make long trips.... well, longer.
All of these can be corrected with the new hybrid gas/electric or diesel/electric cars, but they're too expensive right now to make any signficant savings happen. I like the fact, however, that we are now actively looking at alternative power sources for cars. It would make a HUGE impact on our environment, national security, economy and nation. We don't have to get rid of SUV's, just quit selling them to the urbanites with one kid (or none) who could just as easily fit into a volkswagon. If you don't need to haul around 7 passengers (or four even!) then why the lumber wagon?
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Terri 8:41AM (8/09/2006)
Check out the REVA in India. GM-Ev says that there isn't a dealer selling electric cars "anywhere", yet India is mass producing the REVA and will start exporting them to the UK, Russia & other countries in the near. Also, why is the oil in the Alaskan pipe line being sent to Russia and why is our oil sold to Japan instead of staying in our own USA to lower our gas prices - oh yeah, I forgot, so the the gas companies can gross "billions" @ the end of the year and put a strain on our economy!! Why won't Congress check into that!! Oh yeah, I forgot, our President is an oil owner!! GO REVA!! I'd buy one if it imported here.
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Bruce Stieben 8:55AM (8/09/2006)
What an enlightening video clip and article. Almost bittersweet. To understand what America was capable of when one let independent thought and common sense push the boudaries of what we can build based strictly on a thought, dream or idea is amazing. Especially comparing it today's overwhelming lack of common sense or independant thought. We have and should be capable of so much more than we show everyday. We have raised 2 solid generations of "I am therefore you owe me" kids who have never had to think for themselves, or worked with their hands enough to even begin to understand where to start to build the ideas they think or dream about. And it shows in our workplace and economy. This car should serve as one of many signs waking us up as to the directions we are headed. The wrong way.
Unfortunately, the greed and arrogance of the Big Three and their associated unions have put us behind the eight ball when it comes to this technology. They have ahd a rich history of burying great ideas if it means a change away from big oil or if it shows just how badly they stuck it to us and controlled the market. Thank God for Toyota and Honda showing us just how cumbersome and antiquated our unions and Big Three truly are.
As much as I hate gas prices and really wish the government would step in, I guess this little car goes to prove that maybe they shouldn't. Insane gas pricing makes alternative forms of fuel profitable to produce, attractive to the consumer and causes them to become mainstream YEARS or decades ahead of when it would happen. I guess if gas stayed cheap, I would have never thought of an E85 car, ethanol, Hybrids or shale drilling as something that ever should effect me or have a part in my life. Maybe they should have - 100 years ago.
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William Smith 9:31AM (8/09/2006)
Strange this makes news now. Baker made electric cars for years. The company somewhere along the line became a part of Otis Elevator Co. and was making forklift trucks (both gas & electric.
I understand Barney Oldfield drove one 111 mph in a race back around 1906/10.
United Parcel Company ran electric delivery trucks in New York well past the midcentury point.
This type vehicle was and is feasible. However it is not universally competitive. Many people don't drive more than twenty or thiry miles a day and even then, it does not always require 12 to 24 hour charging time.
If I remember correctly one vehicle was made with the drive motor from an electric forklift truck and the transmission of a Renault Dauphene automobile. I understand that vehicle demonstrated a range of 50 miles or more. This was a project of people in the lifttruck industry maintenance field. I think it was unofficial (but still proven), just some mechanic doing what they enjoy, tinkering with the available expertise and parameters but refusing to accept the industry paradymes.
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JohnPaul 9:32AM (8/09/2006)
The real issue is not that we would have make new Gas stations/ Energy Stops. We already have that technology in vechicles today for them to replace energy released by moving and stoping for them to transfer energy to keep propeling them. The problem is that the governments bankroll will shrink big time if there are electric vechicles. There would be a huge decrease in taxes being payed out. Everthing for a gas vechicle is taxed many times over. Just think in parts for a gas engine alone get taxed many times before you even drive the vechicle. The distributers of the parts, maker of the parts, the delevery of the parts is all getting taxed. All oil changes,taxed.Everything taxed. If you are running a electric motor, very minumum maintance , prolonged life, less parts to be replaceds. Governments making a fraction of the amount on taxes because the population is spending less to get around. Losing them more income. Think about it. Everything that goes wrong cost us more money so they make money. All the government does is cover it up to make it seem better but the problem still there & keeps costing us more . I could go on in better detail about the issues and problems but you'll get the jist of it I hope beings this is just a comment board.
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MORG 9:49AM (8/09/2006)
Why not just put huge solar panels on the roof? Or use giant quadruple D cells from Walmart?
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Phil Severson 9:52AM (8/09/2006)
Electric is good but steam is better the Doble could do over a 100 miles an hr when gas cars blew apart over 50 back in the twenties. They had more power and speed than the bodies and tires of the day could handle safely.
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Jay Preston 9:52AM (8/09/2006)
And don't forget that those lead acid batteries will need replacement every five years or so. The only advantage that Bakers had over horses was: they produced no fertilizer.
My daughter's VW Golf (Rabbit) diesel is a very comfortable with all the bells and whistles & gets an HONEST 49mpg with a range of about 500mi on the highway. With a tweak or two, it will run on almost any combustible liquid, and the infrastructure already exists.
There is NO free lunch. The electricity has to come from somewhere.
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Tim Orris 9:56AM (8/09/2006)
Every vehicle has its prolems, Electric cars still require power,and that means coal smoke, batterys have short life span before going to be recycled or to landfill, Low speed, short driving range, massive acis spills at collisions. Better idea would be coal gasification, germans did it in WW II
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tammy 10:01AM (8/09/2006)
if you want to know what happened to the electric car watch documentary Who Killed the Electric Car.
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Mike DeRouchie 10:10AM (8/09/2006)
I think it should be almost mandatory, that anyone that lives within a half hour of where they work drive an electric or hybred car. They could keep a second car for takeing longer trips that is bigger. Could you just emagine the impact that would have on our fuel consumption nation wide. Also the impact on our enviorment, and global warming would be significant. We could also tell BIG OIL to shove it where the sun don't shine. We really need to do something drastic and very soon to turn the enviorment around and make this world a decent place to be.
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steve libbby 10:12AM (8/09/2006)
Gosh, its almost as if our gov't is in bed with big oil and auto makers. You mean there are alternative fuels? Well, NASCAR would never be the same if we get rid of gas, and the blue states won't have that...
Damn Illuminati.
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Lori 10:26AM (8/09/2006)
So "what are we going to do about it?" is my question. I don't think I alone can make a change. But I truly feel that Americans can perform in the same manner as a colony of fire ants. If we all have the same goal and all attack at the same time we can take down our foes with little individual effort. Everyone needs to write their senators and represenatives and tell them that we will no longer stand for this situation. That until this oil issue is resolved we can no longer waste the 165 days their actually in legislation talking about who should morally be allowed to get married. At this point oil prices will kill our economic system a lot faster than same sex people getting married. Our politicians aren't going to fix this-it is up to us to make the difference this time.
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Julius 11:04AM (8/09/2006)
THANKS to Lori because she is SO right on...in ancient Rome, near its END, they were debating issues regarding homosexuality and its indecentness while the armies were out fighting wars against "agressors" and greedy politicians and business people were sucking every penny out of the system as the overnment went into severe debt. So what has changed? Read up on it folks and you'kll see this is a dangerous time for us and I think the people in Washington KNOW IT. So why bother to do anything that smacks of the future? We can't even fix our aging electrical infrastructure to make it work (witness what happened in my home county of Queens NY thanks to Con Ed's lack of priorities). Oil prices? come on, no one is really trying to do ANYTHING now, there are too many BIGGER issues to deal with (according to the people we vote for)...they just tell us to drive slower, buy smaller (to the point it is unsafe...YARIS? come on!), amd deal woth it like Europe has for several years whle the oil companies RAKE IT IN BIG TIME without even fixing aging systems (witness BP!). WE ARE BEIONG SOLD OUT BY PEOPLE WHO DON'T CARE. Buy a hybrid? Why? College to pay for for my kids, car paid off so in the long run cheaper to run and still running great (and considered GREEN by the EPA to boot based on its emissions), and could be a passing fancy interim technology anyway (plus IO hear the actual mileage is NOT what the EPA says even on those things). So I will wait and push for higher mileage cars and electric that works, or alternative fuels... BUT STOP DEBATING SAME SEX MARRIAGES and give us what we need, a system that will NOT kill our economy!
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fmj 11:10AM (8/09/2006)
FREE RIDE
Let's not forget that the Eisenhower Interstate System we all use and love and a lot of secondary roads are built and maintained by fuel tax. How will this tax be levied on battery cars? Will they get a "free ride" like the ultimate low impact vehicle, the horse and buggy?
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