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Some EV History - Page CLast updated 2003.01.14 Introduction
| Acknowledgements |
Other Sources of EV History
Information [A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I] [J] [K] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R] [S] [T] [U] [V] [W] [X] [Y] [Z] [Numbers] Items of Historical Interest in the Development and Commercialization of EVs- C -C5The C5 was produced by Sir Clive Sinclair in 1985. The vehicle
was a single-seater, with the rider sitting in a semi-reclined
position. Power and steering controls were placed below the
driver's thighs. Powered by a DC motor using lead-acid batteries,
the C5 had a maximum speed of 24 km/h and a range of 32 km on a
charge. The maximum speed was chosen to allow the vehicle to be
licensed as a bicycle in England. The low maximum speed and
uncertainty as to how to licence it in many North American
jurisdictions were major factors in low sales of the vehicle in
North America. There is a 1985 Sinclair C5 in the (British)
National Motor Museum (Beaulieu). C-300 - see Marathon C-300C-360 - see Marathon C-360CABACCanadian Cycle and Motor Company - see E.R. Thomas Motor CompanyCanadian MotorsCanadian Motors Limited took over the premises of Still Motor Company Ltd. of Toronto in 1900. Canadian Motors Limited manufactured electric vehicles to order which included the electric three wheeled Motette and an electric bus called the Tallyhoe. They lasted about 3 years. CantonoE. Cantono of Rome (Italy) was one of the earliest electric conversion operations. For the most part they produced a traction unit that replaced the front wheels and axle of horse-drawn carriages. The Cantono units generally placed the batteries over the front axle with a motor connected to each front wheel. There were versions for private vehicles and omnibus size vehicles. Complete vehicles based on the front traction unit were also available. Production ran from 1900 to 1905, with subsequent operations under the firm F.R.A.M. (Fabbrica Botabili Aventreni Motori) in Rome (1905 to 1906) and Genoa (1906-1911). The Cantono Electric Tractor Co. of Canton OH produced the Italian designs from 1904 to 1907. CardinetLa Compagnie Francaise des Voitures Electromobiles of Paris (France) produced the Cardinet in a variety of models from 1900 to 1906. Their address was 49, Rue Cardinet, Paris. CarpenterH.H. Carpenter, - Denver, Colo, USA, 1895 Carter CoasterCAT - see Clean Air TransportationCCM - see E.R. Thomas Motor CompanyCentury (1)Century Motor Vehicle Co., 517 East Water Street, Syracuse, NY, USA, 1900-1903 Century (2)The Century Motor Co. (later the Century Electric Car Co.) of Detroit MI produced electric cars from 1911 to 1915. Westinghouse motors were used in these vehicles. Both solid and pneumatic tires were offered. Photo of Century Electric (circa 1921) (B&W - 11k) C.G.E.Not Canadian General Electric, but le Compagnie Generale Electrique of Paris (France). This company produced an open-body 2-seater from 1941-1946 when there was a shortage of gasoline for civilians caused by the demands of the German war effort during World War II. Production ended when gasoline became widely available again after the end of the war. Change-of-Pace - see Electric Vehicle AssociatesChapeauxVoitures E. Chapeaux built a small 2-seater electric car in 1940 and 1941 in Lyons (France). It seems not only gasoline was in short supply in occupied France, as only 4 of these cars were ever built. ChapmanAlso known as the Electromobile, this car was built by W.H. Chapman, an electrician working at Belknap Motor Co., Kennebec St., Portland, ME. The Chapman weighed just 360 pounds and was built from 1899 to 1902. Charles Town-AboutBuilt in 1958 and 1959 at the Stinson Aircraft Tool and Engineering Corp. of San Diego CA, these electric cars were named after Dr. Charles H. Graves, the driving force behind their production. Several prototypes were built, each refined from the previous version. It appears there was no significant production of these vehicles, with only about 12 being produced in total. The vehicles used nickel-cadmium batteries and were sold mostly to utility companies. ChelseaThe Chelsea Electric Coupe was built in 1922 by the Wandsworth Engineering Works of London (England). The car was a closed-body 2-seater. Batteries were mounted front and rear under a hood and trunk that looked very much like gasoline-powered vehicles of the period. ChicagoEnclosed electric coupes with seating for four were produced by the Chicago Electric Motor Co. of Chicago IL in 1915 and 1916. Church-FieldThe Church-Field Motor Co. of Sibley MI produced electric cars in 1912 and 1913. It utilized a 2-speed gearbox with 10 motor speeds that could be selected electrically. Chloride TechnicalSilent KarrierSilent RiderC.H. Waterman Industries - see U.S. ElectricarCitiCar - see Sebring-VanguardCity & SuburbanThe City & Suburban Electric Carriage Co. Ltd of 6 Denman street, Golden Square, London (England) operated from 1901 to 1905. This firm supplied a 2-seater electric to Queen Alexandra in 1901. Most of their vehicles were based on American Columbias chassis and drive-train, with the bodywork provided locally. The Niagara was one of the more popular models produced, a run-about with pneumatic tires. A gasoline-electric hybrid prototype was shown in 1903, but apparently never went into production. CitySTROMer - see VolkswagenClarkBrunn's Carriage Mfg. Co., Buffalo, NY, USA, 1906-1910 Clear & DunhamCleveland, Ohio, USA, 1900-1905 ClecoThe Cleco Electric Industries, Ltd. of Foundry Square, Leicester (England) operated from 1935 to 1940, producing small electric vans and a few saloon cars. ClevelandThe Cleveland Machine Screw Co. of Cleveland OH built an electric 2-seater from 1899 to 1901. Early models were called the Cleveland, later models were called the Sperry. CliftE.H. Clift & Co. of London (England) produced the Clift Electric Victoria from 1899 to 1902. Clean Air TransportationCAT 301Club CarClub Car Co. of Augusta GA is best known for the manufacture of electric golf-carts. However, they did produce the Caroche, a small electric capable of 26 mph and a range of 53 miles per charge, which weighed in at under 1,000 pounds. C.M.V.The Construcciones Moviles de Valencia of Valencia (Spain) operated from 1944 to 1946 producing a small 2-seater electric car. At the time the Spanish government was encouraging the conservation of gasoline for civilian use so more could be directed to military uses late in World War II and into the early post-war period when gasoline remained in short supply. CollinsCollins Electric Vehicle Co., Scranton, PA, USA, 1901 to ? ColonialThe Colonial Electric Car Co. of Detroit MI produced both a 5-seater enclosed electric car and a 2-seater electric roadster in 1912. A top speed of 25 mph was claimed for the roadster. Columbia (1)Electric cars called the Columbia were produced from 1897 to
1907 by a succession of companies operating in Hartford CT. (Pope
Manufacturing Co. from 1987 to 1899, Columbia Automobile Co. in
1899, Columbia & Electric Vehicle Co. in 1900, Electric
Vehicle Co. from 1901 to 1909.) Some 500 of these cars were
produced by the end of 1898. Gasoline cars were built by the same
companies starting in 1899. A 1901 Columbia is in the holdings of
the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn MI. Columbia (2)Apparently unrelated to the Columbias of Hartford CT that had appeared earlier, these Columbias were produced by the Columbia Electric Vehicle Co. of Detroit MI from 1914 to 1918. 2, 3 and 4-seater models were produced. The vehicles were also referred to as Columbians. It was likely this company that acquired the assets of the Argo Electric Vehicle Co. in 1916. ColumbusColumbus buggy Co., Ohio, USA, 1902 to between 1911-1915. Photo of 1904 Columbus #60 at 1982 EAA Rally - copyright 1998 Bob Wing - used here with permission (colour - 61k) Commercial Truck CompanyThis firm operated in Philadelphia PA and produced large electric trucks from approximately 1910 to 1927. (It probably also produced trucks powered by sources other than electricity.) This is the firm that built the electric trucks used by Curtis Publishing until the early 1960's. Top speed for these trucks was approximately 12 mph, but they could carry up to 9 to 10 tons, well beyond the 5-ton rating for these vehicles. A 1916 Model F-5-ton flatbed truck (serial #6940) is on display at the Hays Antique Truck Museum in Woodland CA (see photos below). This particular truck was used by the Curtis Publishing company as part of their fleet for hauling paper and delivering newspapers and magazines. Specifications for the 1916 Commercial Truck Company Model F-5
flatbed electric truck: Comuta - see FordComuta-Car - see Commuter Vehicles Inc.Commuter Vehicles Inc.Produced the Comuta-Car and Comuta-Van in Florida in the early 1980's. Comuta-CabComuta-VanEssentially an extended and upgraded version of the Comuta-Car, this vehicle was designed primarily for use in running fixed commercial delivery routes for relatively light, small packages. The United States Postal Service was the target client of interest, however, although the USPS did acquire a few of these vehicles for evaluation, no major purchase was ever concluded. Concordia UniversityCopper Development AssociationIn the 1970's, the Copper Development Association Inc. built two electric prototypes. The Copper Delivery Van which had a gross vehicle weight rating of 2,843 kg, travelled up to 153 km on a charge and had a maximum speed of 85 km/h, using 36 6-volt lead-acid batteries for energy storage. The Copper Town Car was a 2-seater car, with a gross vehicle weight rating of 1,340 kg, travelling up to 100 km/h with a range of 190 km on a charge. It used 18 6-volt lead-acid batteries for energy storage. Corbin-GentryCorbin-Gentry built an electric motorcycle in the 1970's. One of the principals of the firm (Mike Corbin) went on as Corbin Motors to build the Sparrow beginning in 1998, and on into the 2000's. The bike in the image below is Serial Number 1 of the
Corbin-Gentry electric motorcycles. This photo shows it after
having climbed Mt. Washington, NH in July 1974. Creative Automotive ResearchCrompton ElectricarsNP10CrowdusThe Crowdus Automobile Co. of 211 East 57th street, Chicago, IL produced the Crowdus, a light electric run-about from 1901 to 1903. A range of 50 miles per charge was claimed. Current-Fare - see Electric Vehicle AssociatesCurtis Publishing Co.This firm had large electric trucks (10 feet high, over 20 feet long) built for the delivery of their publications in approximately 1913. Most remained in service for over 50 years. One is currently in the holdings of the Franklin Institute. CushmanC-V Electric TruckThis website is powered by renewable
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