The Golden Age of Electric Taxis: A UK Perspective

The bustling streets of London and New York at the turn of the 20th century were surprisingly quiet, cleaner, and more efficient than one might imagine. Long before the widespread adoption of internal combustion engines, electric vehicles, particularly taxis, held a significant and often overlooked prominence. This fascinating period, often dubbed the 'Golden Age' of electric cars, saw these innovative machines dominate urban transport, offering a glimpse into a future that, in many ways, we are only now fully realising. But when exactly did these silent workhorses become popular, and what made them such a compelling choice for the discerning urban dweller?

The Silent Revolution: Early Electric Vehicles

The journey towards the popularisation of electric taxis began long before they graced city streets. The fundamental breakthrough was the invention of the rechargeable lead-acid battery by French physicist Gaston Planté in 1859, providing a viable means to store electricity on board a vehicle. This pivotal innovation paved the way for the very first human-carrying electric vehicles.

It was in April 1881 that French inventor Gustave Trouvé put what is likely the first human-carrying electric vehicle with its own power source to the test along a Parisian street. Trouvé had meticulously improved the efficiency of a small electric motor developed by Siemens and, utilising the recently developed rechargeable battery, fitted it to an English James Starley tricycle in 1880. This ingenious combination effectively gave birth to the world’s first electric vehicle. Despite its successful testing on 19 April 1881 along the Rue Valois in central Paris, Trouvé was, unfortunately, unable to patent his groundbreaking invention.

The United Kingdom also played a crucial role in these early advancements. English inventor Thomas Parker, a figure renowned for electrifying the London Underground and establishing overhead tramways in Liverpool and Birmingham, constructed what is recognised as the first production electric car in Wolverhampton in 1884. Although documentation is scarce, a photograph from 1895 stands as testament to this pioneering achievement. Indeed, France and the United Kingdom stood at the forefront, becoming the first nations to actively support the widespread development of electric vehicles, with German engineer Andreas Flocken building his version of the first 'real' electric car in 1888.

Beyond personal transport, electric motors found practical applications in industrial settings, notably in electric trains used for transporting coal out of mines, where their lack of oxygen consumption was a significant advantage. In an era predating the dominance of internal combustion engines, electric automobiles even held numerous speed and distance records. A particularly notable feat was Camille Jenatzy's breaking of the 100 km/h (62 mph) speed barrier on 29 April 1899, reaching an impressive 105.88 km/h (65.79 mph) in his distinctive 'rocket-shaped' vehicle, the Jamais Contente. Ferdinand Porsche also contributed significantly, designing and constructing an all-wheel-drive electric car powered by a motor in each hub, which also set several records under its owner E.W. Hart. The United States saw its first electric car developed by William Morrison of Des Moines, Iowa, in 1890-91, a six-passenger wagon capable of 23 kilometres per hour (14 mph). However, it wasn't until 1895, with A.L. Ryker introducing electric tricycles, that American consumers began to truly take notice, nearly 15 years after Europeans had already embraced electric tricycles, bicycles, and cars.

The Golden Age of Electric Cabs

The true surge in interest in motor vehicles, and specifically electric taxis, unfolded dramatically in the late 1890s and early 1900s. It was during this period, at the very end of the 19th century, that electric battery-powered taxis became a common sight in major cities.

London, ever a pioneer in public transport, witnessed the introduction of a fleet of electric cabs designed by Walter Bersey in 1897. These innovative vehicles soon earned the affectionate nickname "Hummingbirds" due to the distinctive, low humming noise they produced, a stark contrast to the clatter and fumes of horse-drawn carriages or early petrol vehicles. In the same year, across the Atlantic in New York City, Samuel's Electric Carriage and Wagon Company commenced operations with 12 electric hansom cabs. This venture proved successful, expanding to include up to 62 cabs by 1898 before its financiers reformed it into the Electric Vehicle Company, signalling the growing confidence and investment in electric public transport.

Why Electric Initially Dominated

The early 1900s presented a unique competitive landscape for automobiles, and electric vehicles boasted a compelling array of advantages over their nascent gasoline-powered rivals. These benefits made them particularly appealing for urban environments and a specific demographic:

• Comfort and Cleanliness: Unlike early petrol cars, electric vehicles produced no unpleasant vibrations, noxious smells, or excessive noise. This made for a far more refined and pleasant ride for passengers and a more agreeable experience for drivers and passers-by.
• Ease of Operation: Early petrol cars required manual effort to start, often involving a hand crank, which could be cumbersome and even dangerous. Electric cars, by contrast, started instantly with the flick of a switch, requiring no strenuous cranking.
• Simplicity: The absence of complex gear changes in electric vehicles further simplified their operation, making them easier to drive, especially in the stop-start nature of city traffic.

These advantages are stark when comparing the two technologies:

Electric cars found particular favour among well-heeled customers who primarily used them as city cars. For this clientele, the limited range of electric vehicles was less of a disadvantage, as their journeys typically remained within urban confines where charging infrastructure, even if nascent, was more accessible.

Intriguingly, electric cars were also often marketed as ideal vehicles for women drivers due to their perceived ease of operation. This marketing, however, led to a peculiar stigma: early electric cars were sometimes dismissed as 'women's cars'. Some manufacturers even went so far as to affix fake radiators to the front of their electric vehicles to disguise the true nature of their propulsion system and make them appear more like their petrol counterparts.

Overcoming Obstacles: Powering the Future

Despite their initial advantages and growing popularity, the widespread acceptance of electric cars faced an immediate challenge: a lack of widespread power infrastructure for recharging. However, this hurdle began to diminish significantly by 1912, as many homes across the United States and the United Kingdom became wired for electricity. This expansion of the electrical grid enabled a surge in the popularity of electric cars, as owners could now conveniently charge their vehicles at home overnight.

By the turn of the century, the landscape of personal transport in the United States showed a fascinating distribution of power sources: 40 percent of automobiles were powered by steam, 38 percent by electricity, and 22 percent by gasoline. This highlights the substantial foothold electric vehicles had established. A total of 33,842 electric cars were registered in the United States during this period, solidifying its position as the country where electric cars had gained the most acceptance. Sales of electric cars reached their peak in the early 1910s, marking the zenith of their initial dominance.

To further address the inherent limitation of operating range and the patchy recharging infrastructure, an innovative solution was proposed as early as 1896: an exchangeable battery service. This forward-thinking concept was first put into practical application by the Hartford Electric Light Company through its GeVeCo battery service, initially targeting electric trucks. Under this pioneering model, the vehicle owner would purchase the vehicle from General Vehicle Company (GVC, a subsidiary of General Electric Company) without the battery. The electricity, and indeed the battery itself, was then purchased from Hartford Electric through an exchangeable battery system. The owner paid a variable per-mile charge and a monthly service fee that covered the maintenance and storage of the truck's battery. Both vehicles and batteries were specifically modified to facilitate rapid battery exchange, allowing for quick turnaround times. This service operated successfully between 1910 and 1924, covering an impressive distance of over 6 million miles. A similar successful service commenced in Chicago in 1917 for owners of Milburn Wagon Company cars, who could also purchase their vehicles without the batteries, underscoring the viability and appeal of this early battery-swapping model.

While the internal combustion engine eventually surpassed electric vehicles in popularity due to advancements in petrol engine technology, declining petrol prices, and the introduction of the electric starter (eliminating the hand crank), the early 20th century undeniably represented a Golden Age for electric transport. The foundational innovations and the widespread adoption of electric taxis during this era laid crucial groundwork, demonstrating the immense potential of electric power for urban mobility, a potential that is now being fully realised in the 21st century.

A Glimpse into the Past: FAQs

When did electric taxis first appear and become popular?

Electric battery-powered taxis became available and gained popularity towards the end of the 19th century and into the early 1900s. London saw a fleet introduced in 1897, and New York City followed suit in the same year, with sales of electric cars peaking in the early 1910s.

What were early London electric taxis called?

The early electric cabs introduced to the streets of London in 1897 by Walter Bersey were soon nicknamed the 'Hummingbirds' due to the distinctive, idiosyncratic humming noise they produced.

What advantages did early electric cars have over petrol cars?

Early electric cars offered several significant advantages: they produced no vibration, smell, or noise, unlike petrol cars. They also did not require cumbersome gear changes and, crucially, did not need a manual hand crank to start the engine, offering a much easier and cleaner driving experience.

Why were electric cars popular with women drivers?

Electric cars were often marketed as suitable vehicles for women drivers due to their ease of operation, particularly the lack of a manual hand crank start and no need for gear changes. This made them less physically demanding and simpler to drive in urban settings.

How did early electric vehicles overcome range limitations?

To address the limited operating range and lack of widespread recharging infrastructure, innovative solutions like the exchangeable battery service were implemented. Companies like Hartford Electric Light Company offered systems where vehicle owners could purchase their vehicle without a battery and then 'swap' depleted batteries for fully charged ones, paying per-mile and a monthly service fee.

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