Detroit Electric

The Detroit Electric Car Company, initially known as the Anderson Electric Car Company, was a pioneering entity in the electric vehicle industry, producing cars from 1907 to 1939. Here’s a milestone history based on the information available up to 1940:

• 1907-1939: The company built approximately 13,000 electric cars over this period. Detroit Electric cars were known for their reliability, ease of use, and were particularly marketed towards women and physicians due to their simplicity in operation compared to the hand-cranked internal combustion engines of the time.

• Early 1910s: This era marked the peak of electric vehicle popularity, with Detroit Electrics being priced significantly higher than their gasoline counterparts. For instance, a basic model could cost $2,000. More luxurious models like a limousine with an Edison nickel-steel battery could go up to $4,750. This was at a time when the average annual income was around $1,000, indicating these cars were luxury items.

• 1914: Henry Ford bought his wife Clara a Detroit Electric, showcasing the car’s status as a luxury item. This event also highlights the electric car’s appeal among the affluent due to its quiet operation and lack of the gasoline smell.

• 1920: The company’s name was changed to “The Detroit Electric Car Company” as it separated from its body and motor/controller manufacturing businesses.

• 1920s: Despite the rise of more affordable and powerful internal combustion engine cars, Detroit Electric continued to produce vehicles, although sales declined. The electric starter for gasoline cars, introduced around this time, diminished one of the electric car’s primary advantages - ease of starting.

• Post-1929: After the stock market crash, while many companies faltered, Detroit Electric managed to stay in business, though the demand for electric cars had significantly waned.

• 1939: This marks the end of production for the original Detroit Electric, as the company could not compete with the advancements and economies of scale achieved by gasoline car manufacturers.

Throughout its history, Detroit Electric was noted for its technological innovations, like being the first to use curved window glass in production automobiles, which was both a sign of luxury and a complex manufacturing feat. The company’s vehicles were also praised for their design and build quality, often featuring in high society and among those who valued comfort and cleanliness over the then-novel gasoline engines.

The story of Detroit Electric from 1907 to 1939 reflects broader trends in automotive history, where electric vehicles started with promise, were overtaken by gasoline engines due to infrastructure, cost, and technological advancements, but have seen a resurgence in interest due to environmental concerns and technological improvements in the modern era.

I found this newspaper from 1914 in the Library of Congress online archives. .

It’s interesting seeing all the different manufacturers like CycleCar, Marian and Overland.

Detroit Electric is now back and building new Electric cars. Detroit Electric