Detroit Electric: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox automobile | {{Infobox automobile | ||
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The '''Detroit Electric''' was an [[electric car]] produced by the '''Anderson Electric Car Company''' in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. The company built 13,000 electric cars from 1907 to 1939.<ref name=GCR032013>{{cite web|url= http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1082994_all-electric-corvette-coming-next-month-from-detroit-startup |title=All-Electric Sports Car Coming Next Month From Detroit Startup? |author=John Voelcker|publisher=Green Car Reports|date=2013-03-19 |accessdate=2013-03-19}}</ref> | The '''Detroit Electric''' was an [[electric car]] produced by the '''Anderson Electric Car Company''' in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. The company built 13,000 electric cars from 1907 to 1939.<ref name=GCR032013>{{cite web|url= http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1082994_all-electric-corvette-coming-next-month-from-detroit-startup |title=All-Electric Sports Car Coming Next Month From Detroit Startup? |author=John Voelcker|publisher=Green Car Reports|date=2013-03-19 |accessdate=2013-03-19}}</ref> | ||
The marque was revived in 2008 by Albert Lam, former Group CEO of the [[Lotus Engineering|Lotus Engineering Group]] and executive director of [[Lotus Cars]] of England. to produce modern | The marque was revived in 2008 by Albert Lam, former Group CEO of the [[Lotus Engineering|Lotus Engineering Group]] and executive director of [[Lotus Cars]] of England. to produce modern all-electric cars by [https://detroit-electric-group.com/. Detroit Electric Holding Ltd.] of the Netherlands. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
[[File:1911 Detroit Electric.jpg|thumb|1911 Detroit Electric at the [[California Automobile Museum]]]] | |||
[[Image:1915 Detroit Electric.jpg|left|thumb|200px|1915 Detroit Electric [[Brougham (carriage)|Brougham]]]] | |||
[[Image:Detroit Electric 1916.jpg|left|thumb|200px|1916 Detroit Electric in Brussels Autoworld Museum]] | |||
[[Image:1920DetroitElectricAd.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|1920 advertisement]] | |||
[[Image:Front shot - Detroit Electric 1917 taken in Maffra, Vic, 2007.jpg|thumb|200px|right|1917 Detroit Electric in [[Maffra]], Victoria, Australia, 2007]] | |||
Anderson had previously been known as the Anderson Carriage Company (until 1911), producing carriages and buggies since 1884. Production of the electric automobile, powered by a rechargeable lead acid battery, began in 1907. For an additional {{USD|600}}, an Edison [[nickel-iron battery]] was available from 1911 to 1916. The cars were advertised as reliably getting {{convert|80|mi|km}} between battery recharging, although in one test a Detroit Electric ran {{convert|211.3|mi|km}} on a single charge. Top speed was around {{Convert|20|mph|abbr=on}}, this was normal average top speed for cars at the time of release in 1907 and was relatively slow by 1939. | |||
The company production was at its peak in the 1910s selling around 1000 to 2000 cars a year. Towards the end of the decade, the Electric was helped by the high price of gasoline during [[World War I]]. In 1920, the name of the Anderson company was changed to "The Detroit Electric Car Company" as the car maker separated from the body business (it became part of Murray Body) and the motor/controller business (Elwell-Parker). As improved internal combustion engine automobiles became more common and inexpensive, sales of the Electric dropped in the 1920s. | The company production was at its peak in the 1910s selling around 1000 to 2000 cars a year. Towards the end of the decade, the Electric was helped by the high price of gasoline during [[World War I]]. In 1920, the name of the Anderson company was changed to "The Detroit Electric Car Company" as the car maker separated from the body business (it became part of Murray Body) and the motor/controller business (Elwell-Parker). As improved internal combustion engine automobiles became more common and inexpensive, sales of the Electric dropped in the 1920s. | ||
Alfred O. Dunk acquired the company in 1927 following the death of Anderson.<ref>Michigan Manufacturer and Financial Record, Volume 45 (1930). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Michigan_Manufacturer_and_Financial_Reco/neQTAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Dunk++%22Anderson%22+%22Detroit+Electric%22++%221927%22&printsec=frontcover Page 3]</ref><ref>{{citation |quote=In 1927 Dunk acquired control of the Detroit Electric Car Company following the death of W. C. Anderson |page=209 |title=How Detroit Became the Automotive Capital: 100th Anniversary |author=Robert G. Szudarek |year=1996}}</ref> The business continued to operate for some years, building cars in response to orders by word of mouth. The last Detroit Electric was shipped on February 23, 1939, though they were still available until 1942.<ref>[[G.N. Georgano]] ''Cars: Early and Vintage, 1886-1930''. (London: Grange-Universal, 1985).</ref> In its final years the cars were manufactured only in very small numbers. Between 1907 and 1939 a total of 13,000 electric cars were built.<ref name=GCR032013/> | Alfred O. Dunk acquired the company in 1927 following the death of Anderson.<ref>Michigan Manufacturer and Financial Record, Volume 45 (1930). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Michigan_Manufacturer_and_Financial_Reco/neQTAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Dunk++%22Anderson%22+%22Detroit+Electric%22++%221927%22&printsec=frontcover Page 3]</ref><ref>{{citation |quote=In 1927 Dunk acquired control of the Detroit Electric Car Company following the death of W. C. Anderson |page=209 |title=How Detroit Became the Automotive Capital: 100th Anniversary |author=Robert G. Szudarek |year=1996}}</ref> The business continued to operate for some years, building cars in response to orders by word of mouth. The last Detroit Electric was shipped on February 23, 1939, though they were still available until 1942.<ref>[[G.N. Georgano]] ''Cars: Early and Vintage, 1886-1930''. (London: Grange-Universal, 1985).</ref> In its final years the cars were manufactured only in very small numbers. Between 1907 and 1939 a total of 13,000 electric cars were built.<ref name=GCR032013/> | ||
Notable people who owned Detroit Electrics cars included [[Thomas Edison]], [[Lizzie Borden]], [[Charles Proteus Steinmetz]], [[Mamie Eisenhower]], and [[John D. Rockefeller Jr.]] who had a pair of Model 46 roadsters.<ref name=GCR032013/> Clara Ford, the wife of [[Henry Ford]], drove Detroit Electrics from 1908, when Henry bought her a Model C coupe with a special child seat, through the late teens. Her third car was a 1914 Model 47 [[Brougham (carriage)|brougham]]. | Notable people who owned Detroit Electrics cars included [[Thomas Edison]], [[Lizzie Borden]], [[Charles Proteus Steinmetz]], [[Mamie Eisenhower]], and [[John D. Rockefeller Jr.]] who had a pair of Model 46 roadsters.<ref name=GCR032013/> Clara Ford, the wife of [[Henry Ford]], drove Detroit Electrics from 1908, when Henry bought her a Model C coupe with a special child seat, through the late teens. Her third car was a 1914 Model 47 [[Brougham (carriage)|brougham]]. | ||
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Detroit Electrics can be seen in various automobile museums, such as the [[Forney Transportation Museum]] in Denver, Colorado; Belgian AutoWorld Museum in [[Brussels]]; [[The Henry Ford]] in [[Dearborn, Michigan]]; and the [[Museum Autovision]] in [[Altlußheim]], Germany. A restored and operational Detroit Electric, owned by Union College, is located in the [[Edison Tech Center]] in [[Schenectady, NY]]. Another restored and operational 1914 with the Edison battery option (Nickel-Iron vs. Lead Acid) is located at the [[National Automobile Museum]] in Reno, Nevada. One 1914 model Is also located, restored and fully operational, near [[Frankenmuth, Michigan]] and another is at the Motor Museum of Western Australia in Perth, Australia, a 1914 Brougham in excellent condition. | Detroit Electrics can be seen in various automobile museums, such as the [[Forney Transportation Museum]] in Denver, Colorado; Belgian AutoWorld Museum in [[Brussels]]; [[The Henry Ford]] in [[Dearborn, Michigan]]; and the [[Museum Autovision]] in [[Altlußheim]], Germany. A restored and operational Detroit Electric, owned by Union College, is located in the [[Edison Tech Center]] in [[Schenectady, NY]]. Another restored and operational 1914 with the Edison battery option (Nickel-Iron vs. Lead Acid) is located at the [[National Automobile Museum]] in Reno, Nevada. One 1914 model Is also located, restored and fully operational, near [[Frankenmuth, Michigan]] and another is at the Motor Museum of Western Australia in Perth, Australia, a 1914 Brougham in excellent condition. | ||
==In popular culture== | ==In popular culture== | ||
The Disney cartoon character [[ | The Disney cartoon character [[Duck_family_(Disney)#Grandma_Duck|Grandma Duck]] drives a red car with license plate number "1902" that appears similar to a Detroit Electric.<br /> | ||
A Detroit Electric is featured in the Perry Mason episode [[ | A Detroit Electric is featured in the Perry Mason episode [[Perry_Mason|The Case of the Borrowed Baby]] (season 5, episode 26, broadcast date April 14, 1962). | ||
The Detroit Electric Car Company is featured in D.E. Johnson's crime novel ''The Detroit Electric Scheme'' published in September, 2010. | The Detroit Electric Car Company is featured in D.E. Johnson's crime novel ''The Detroit Electric Scheme'' published in September, 2010. | ||
Comedian [[Jay Leno]] restored ([[ | Comedian [[Jay Leno]] restored ([[Restomod|restomodded]]) a Detroit Electric between 2015<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lambert |first=Fred |date=December 29, 2015 |title=Jay Leno is "restomodding" a 1914 Detroit Electric car [Video] |url=https://electrek.co/2015/12/29/jay-leno-is-restomodding-a-1914-detroit-electric-car-video/ |access-date=May 12, 2024 |website=Electrek}}</ref> and 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Petrány |first=Máté |date=2020-11-17 |title=It's Crazy How Many Cars Jay Leno Is Restoring at Any Given Moment |url=https://www.thedrive.com/news/37680/its-crazy-how-many-cars-jay-leno-is-restoring-at-any-given-moment |access-date=2024-05-12 |website=The Drive |language=en}}</ref> | ||
==2013 Concept Car== | ==2013 Concept Car== | ||
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* [http://www.thehenryford.org/collections-and-research/digital-collections/artifact/237667 1922 Detroit Electric Coupe] at [[The Henry Ford]] | * [http://www.thehenryford.org/collections-and-research/digital-collections/artifact/237667 1922 Detroit Electric Coupe] at [[The Henry Ford]] | ||
* [https://veva.ca/Detroit-Electric 1913 Detroit Electric looked after by the Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association] | * [https://veva.ca/Detroit-Electric 1913 Detroit Electric looked after by the Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association] | ||
<!-- Categories --> | <!-- Categories --> | ||
Latest revision as of 18:27, 11 November 2025
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The Detroit Electric was an electric car produced by the Anderson Electric Car Company in Detroit, Michigan. The company built 13,000 electric cars from 1907 to 1939.[1]
The marque was revived in 2008 by Albert Lam, former Group CEO of the Lotus Engineering Group and executive director of Lotus Cars of England. to produce modern all-electric cars by Detroit Electric Holding Ltd. of the Netherlands.
History
Anderson had previously been known as the Anderson Carriage Company (until 1911), producing carriages and buggies since 1884. Production of the electric automobile, powered by a rechargeable lead acid battery, began in 1907. For an additional Template:USD, an Edison nickel-iron battery was available from 1911 to 1916. The cars were advertised as reliably getting Template:Convert between battery recharging, although in one test a Detroit Electric ran Template:Convert on a single charge. Top speed was around Template:Convert, this was normal average top speed for cars at the time of release in 1907 and was relatively slow by 1939.
The company production was at its peak in the 1910s selling around 1000 to 2000 cars a year. Towards the end of the decade, the Electric was helped by the high price of gasoline during World War I. In 1920, the name of the Anderson company was changed to "The Detroit Electric Car Company" as the car maker separated from the body business (it became part of Murray Body) and the motor/controller business (Elwell-Parker). As improved internal combustion engine automobiles became more common and inexpensive, sales of the Electric dropped in the 1920s.
Alfred O. Dunk acquired the company in 1927 following the death of Anderson.[2][3] The business continued to operate for some years, building cars in response to orders by word of mouth. The last Detroit Electric was shipped on February 23, 1939, though they were still available until 1942.[4] In its final years the cars were manufactured only in very small numbers. Between 1907 and 1939 a total of 13,000 electric cars were built.[1]
Notable people who owned Detroit Electrics cars included Thomas Edison, Lizzie Borden, Charles Proteus Steinmetz, Mamie Eisenhower, and John D. Rockefeller Jr. who had a pair of Model 46 roadsters.[1] Clara Ford, the wife of Henry Ford, drove Detroit Electrics from 1908, when Henry bought her a Model C coupe with a special child seat, through the late teens. Her third car was a 1914 Model 47 brougham.
Genzo Shimazu, founder of the Japanese battery company Japan Storage Battery Co. (known today as GS Yuasa), imported two Detroit Electric cars shortly after starting the company in 1917. Using his own batteries, he drove them around Tokyo to demonstrate the effectiveness of battery technology. Shimazu used them as daily drivers for 29 years until his retirement in 1946. With a return of interest in electric vehicles at the beginning of the 21st century, GS Yuasa restored one of the vehicles to running condition with a modern lithium-ion 24-volt battery in 2009, registering the date, May 20, as Electric Car Day in Japan.[5]
Detroit Electrics can be seen in various automobile museums, such as the Forney Transportation Museum in Denver, Colorado; Belgian AutoWorld Museum in Brussels; The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan; and the Museum Autovision in Altlußheim, Germany. A restored and operational Detroit Electric, owned by Union College, is located in the Edison Tech Center in Schenectady, NY. Another restored and operational 1914 with the Edison battery option (Nickel-Iron vs. Lead Acid) is located at the National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada. One 1914 model Is also located, restored and fully operational, near Frankenmuth, Michigan and another is at the Motor Museum of Western Australia in Perth, Australia, a 1914 Brougham in excellent condition.
In popular culture
The Disney cartoon character Grandma Duck drives a red car with license plate number "1902" that appears similar to a Detroit Electric.
A Detroit Electric is featured in the Perry Mason episode The Case of the Borrowed Baby (season 5, episode 26, broadcast date April 14, 1962).
The Detroit Electric Car Company is featured in D.E. Johnson's crime novel The Detroit Electric Scheme published in September, 2010.
Comedian Jay Leno restored (restomodded) a Detroit Electric between 2015[6] and 2020.[7]
2013 Concept Car
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See also
References
External links
- 1916 Detroit Electric Touring Car short article and photograph
- Detroit Electric car at Forney Museum article with photos of a 1916 Detroit Electric Opera Coupe
- photo of 1931 model Detroit Electric
- Autovision (Museum) German Museum with a number of electric cars (e.g., a Detroit Electric)
- 1922 Detroit Electric Coupe at The Henry Ford
- 1913 Detroit Electric looked after by the Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association
- ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Michigan Manufacturer and Financial Record, Volume 45 (1930). Page 3
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ G.N. Georgano Cars: Early and Vintage, 1886-1930. (London: Grange-Universal, 1985).
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".