Chicago 2008: 105-year-old electric car hidden way in the back
The Electric Runabout, made by Columbia, was the first electric car ridden in by a U.S. President. That historical event happened over 105 years ago, in case you were wondering. The 1903 Columbia Electric Runabout had a 40-mile range and, like most electric cars of the era, was very popular with female drivers. While that 40-mile range sound wicked good compared to today's electric cars (and concept cars), the Runabout was really more like a Walkabout since its top speed was a solid 14 miles per hour - downhill.
The car was powered by a 40-volt, 30 amp motor from General Electric and cost $850 back at the beginning of the last century. While Columbia went out of business in 1911, you can see the Runabout this coming week as part of the historical display corner of the Chicago Auto Show (this is the 100th show, after all) hidden way in the back of the show floor.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Wise Golden 3:27PM (2/07/2008)
$850 in 1902? Wow what was that equivilent to in todays dollars? $100,000? Makes the Volt seem pretty cheap.
Reply
GoodCheer 4:11PM (2/07/2008)
This inflation calculator comes up with ~$21,000 in 2007 dollars. Seems reasonable.
http://www.westegg.com/inflation/
Reply
Tim 7:12PM (2/07/2008)
A “Dollar” note at the time was redeemable in 371.25 grains (troy) of fine silver on demand. Now the “dollar” note is redeemable ONLY in another “dollar” note.
In effect, the $Dollar has become an I.O.U NOTHING that the privately owned Federal Reserve Bank orders the US Treasury to print for ZERO COST so they can loan it to the American people AT INTEREST! Now you know to whom the Federal Debt is owed. It’s a FRAUD.
http://www.fame.org/HTM/Vieira_Edwin_What_is_a_Dollar_EV-002.HTM
The silver dollar (371.25 grain troy) just passed $16.80 per ounce. This is due to the Fed’s debasing our fiat currency. The more they print and loan to us at interest, the less OURS is worth. That is why lowering Prime rates is a short term patch that only creates inflation.
So, $850.00 of the day redeemable in today’s silver would be $14,280.00 ($850.00 x 16.80).
What does a NEV cost today?
Some things NEVER change.
Reply
Alex Campbell 5:13PM (2/07/2008)
Thanks for the blast from the past, Sebastian.
Auto dealers can see a 1918 Detroit Electric at the National Automobile Dealers Association Conference this weekend in San Francisco. See here...
http://www.zapworld.com/detroit-electric-car
Reply
Trev 10:05PM (2/07/2008)
Tim, wow, just wow, *shakes head*, there is not a need to back up the money with gold or silver anymore, it's not a fraud, and I'm sorry--but you are ignorant.
Reply
texmln 11:47PM (2/07/2008)
Actually, Trev - Tim is exactly right. The modern financial system IS a fraud designed to create a fairly constant inflation the give you the false impression you're better off as time goes by. In fact, gold and silver backed currency is SUCH a good idea the U.S. Constitution itself actually prohibits states from issuing currency NOT backed by gold or silver. Of course, back then states actually could produce their own currency. However, the framers failed to place the same restrictions on the national government, the gold standard was abandoned and now you have a giant ponzi scheme in its place. Enough about that! Let's talk electric cars...
They sucked then. They suck now. Still only preferred by women and so-called 'men' with no hair on their nads. The Electric Car. Another step toward the total p*********** of America.
Reply
Tush 10:54AM (2/08/2008)
wow texmin,
I hope your second paragraph was sarcastic.
Reply
perspective 3:09AM (2/09/2008)
Just to put in a perspective those cars went 15mph but the model T when only 45 mph. But in those days you didn't need to go that fast and probably had a hard time because roads were dirt roads.
Reply