New book has 1912 photo of electric-car charging
Nestled in a new book called "Historic Photos of Cincinnati" is a 1912 shot of a woman plugging in her electric car. There nearly 200 archival photographs gathered from a variety of sources that covers the Cincinnati area from the Civil War. They were compiled by Linda Bailey, a reference librarian for the Cincinnati Historical Society Library. While the book features famous residents, celebrity visitors and well-known landmarks, there are also shots of ordinary people in their everyday lives. "We can see where we have been and where we are going," says Bailey. Interesting project and very cool photo. If anyone know what model of electric vehicle is shown, I'd sure like to know!
[Source: Jan Perry/Cincinnati Post]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dave H 9:21PM (11/21/2008)
First, The 1912 Electric car being plugged in is a "Baker", if memory serves. I believe you will find one in Jay Lenos collection. It seems to me the best way to go, is with the MagTrans car invented by that fellow in Alma, Wisc. It plugs in overnight, then also charges it's own battery whenever you use the brakes, hit a bump in the road, and even let up on the accelerator. He says it has about a 300 mile range! If that is all factual, how can one do any better?
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Dave H 9:30PM (11/21/2008)
I found the website for the "MagTrans" car. magtransauto.com should get you there. Check it out!
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larry donuts 1:32AM (4/02/2009)
I own an E57 and get 3,000,400 miles to the jiggawat
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Tim 11:06AM (11/18/2006)
Really want to know why we are not using electric now and probably never will?
http://internalcombustionbook.com
The LOVE of money is the root…
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George Krpan 4:03PM (11/18/2006)
Tim, how can the car manufacturers and oil companies stop the electric car? We already have access to electricity. How could that be taken away? Also, if the automakers who are currently dominant won't make electric cars that just leaves the door wide open for someone else. Perhaps they think no one could compete with them from the vantage point of the amenities that they offer in their cars. But I think there's going to be a huge paradigm shift. Their cars will come to be viewed as what they really are, excessive and superflous. People will come to value the cars that make the least enviormental impact and will change their living arrangements to use them as little as possible. Not taking the car will be the new status symbol. You will be viewed kindly as you ride your bike down the street, exchange smiles with your fellow public transportation users, and will be frowned upon going down the street in your personal luxury automobile.
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Paul Scott 1:44AM (11/20/2006)
I drive an EV now and charge it from the solar panels on my house. I've been doing this for four years and know lots of people doing the same thing. My electric bill for last year was $48.95. That's for the car and the house. I haven't been to a gas station since buying this car. Just don't buy a new car from any manufacturer until they sell one with a plug on it. Be sure to tell them your are going to keep what you have now until the EVs or plug in hybrids come. It's only a year or two, so just wait.
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Schneegz 9:45AM (11/20/2006)
The reason we don't drive electric cars today is that most of us like the convenience of being able to refuel in five or ten minutes, as opposed to hours, and the ability to drive 200+ miles on a single refuel.
As soon as electric cars can do the same at a comparable price and with comparable performance to a car powered by an internal combustion engine, electric cars will become the standard.
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Tim 12:32PM (11/20/2006)
George - you need to understand their business model. When President Bush said that “America is addicted to oil…” He wasn’t speaking metaphorically. His oil buddies are the drug manufacturers and dealers. The money is in the crack, not the crack pipe. When I “sold” pressure washers to industry, we would give away the machines when the customer purchased their cleaning chemicals to run through the machines from us. I currently work for a large merchant credit card processor, and yes, we’ll give free terminals to merchants who let us process their cards. Have a good location, and the vending company will place a machine their for FREE, they will keep it stocked for free and even share their profits with you. If you understand the car business, you know that the profit in manufacturing and selling cars is insignificant compared the profits from consumables i.e.: parts, service and most importantly lubricants, coolants and fuel. Why do you think the funds that own 59% of GM also own many times that amount in the oil companies. http://www.ev1.org/gmoil.htm. It’s good business to keep you customers addicted. Just ask the pharmaceutical manufacturers and the fast food industry. Without legislation, the auto manufacturers will never produce electric cars that use no oil, coolant, grease, have fewer parts to break and will allow you to make your own fuel from the sun, wind etc. The legislature will never pass these laws because of tax and lobbing revenue from consumables.
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prof pi (Jeff Thompson) 12:30AM (11/16/2007)
judging by the battery box at the back and the high "tower" style of the body,...I'd say it's an Edison Electric
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