Everything Old is New Again -- In Cars

By Sophie Dawson

Imagine opening up the 1896 Montgomery Ward catalogue and ordering an automobile. I know some of you haven’t a clue what Montgomery Ward is. It was the first mail-order catalogue for general merchandise in the United States, being sent out in 1872. The first mail-order catalogue was Tiffany’s Blue Book. Mail-order and its consequences is an entirely different blog. So, back to an automobile.

1896 Electric Automobile

This early American automobile isn’t what you might think of as a car of the time. It wasn’t a Stanley Steamer, run by a steam engine. Nor was it propelled by an internal combustion engine, which we are all familiar with, as most of our vehicles still use today. It ran on electricity.

That’s right, folks, just as we are able to do in the 21st Century, those of the late 19th Century could order and drive an all electric car.

Automobiles, or autocars as they were called in Great Britain, were in development during most of the 1800’s. There were cars run by steam and the newly invented internal combustion engine. Due to it’s easy starting and driving, and comfort, lack of noise, and non-emissions of nauseous fumes, one of the most popular was the electric automobile. It was especially popular with women and doctors.

The electrically powered vehicles were first demonstrated by Thomas Davenport, of Brandon, VT in 1835 and Charles Page, of Salem, MA around the same time. Surprised? I certainly was. I’d thought the automobile was a late Victorian invention, and generally it was. Steam powered cars were primarily in initial development in the 1860’s. The first internal combustion engine wasn’t invented until 1876 in Germany. It was ten years later before Carl Benz began production of commercial automobiles.

1897 American Electric Delivery Van

Okay, enough with the dates. Electric cars were very popular due to their positive driving experience. They did lack several elements crucial to their continued success. They had limited range. At the beginning of the 20th Century, electric cars could only traverse 20 miles before their batteries needed recharging. The life of the storage-batteries was limited and were bulky. Even Thomas Edison was unable to develop a viable battery that could compete with the internal combustion engine. Range limits seems to be the major sticking point of electric cars today.

Next time you are looking to purchase a vehicle, no matter what type of engine, all electric, hybrid, or gas powered, remember: The electric automobile was the first one developed and its positive elements are still those of today, quiet, comfort, and non-emissions. They date back to 1835 a half-century before the internal combustion engine was invented. I have little doubt that someday you’ll be able to order an all-electric car on Amazon.


Sophie Dawson is an award-winning author of sweet historical and contemporary romances. Her latest release is An Agent for Delaney, The Pinkerton Matchmaker #16.