Museum Exhibit Review: 107 Years of Electric Cars
With the recent technological advancements and increased adoption of electric cars, SUVs and trucks, it is lost on most people that electricity was an early popular propulsion system for cars. This development began in the early 1800s throughout Europe, leading to the first commercially available American vehicle hitting the road in 1890. The next two decades were the heyday of electrically powered cars, vans and trucks. Then along came petroleum and the refining of gasoline. It was a good run that only now, some 100 years later, is beginning to see a rebirth.
To provide not only a look back, but a look into the future, the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles currently has an exhibit called “Building An Electric Future: The Technology Of Today For The Vehicles Of Tomorrow.” Clean Fleet Report had the opportunity to tour the exhibit, where there were electric cars spanning 107 years. Here are a few of what is on display, in chronological order. With the exhibit not closing until January 2023, there is plenty of time to add the Petersen Automotive Museum to your list of what to do and see in Los Angeles. [note: expandable versions of the descriptions are at the bottom of the post and links to additional stories with some models]
Detroit Electric
Detroit Electric
1915 Detroit Electric Model 61 Brougham
20 mph (top speed)
10 horsepower (hp)
80 mile range
Electric Shopper
Electric Shopper
1960 Electric Shopper
18 mph
1 hp
35 mile range
Henney Kilowatt
Henney Kilowatt
1963 Henney Kilowatt
40 mph
7.2 hp
40 mile range
U.S. Electricar
U.S. Electricar
1994 U.S. Electricar GTP
80 mph
Unknown hp
70 mile range
Corbin Sparrow
Corbin Sparrow
1996 Corbin Sparrow
75 mph
25 hp
50 mile range
GM EV1
GM EV1
1996 General Motors EV1
80 mph
137 hp
100 mile range
Nissan Hypermini
Nissan Hypermini
2001 Nissan Hypermini
62 mph
32 hp
72 mile range
2008 Tesla Roadster
2008 Tesla Roadster
2008 Tesla Roadster
125 mph
248 hp
211 mile range
2009 Tesla Model S prototype
2009 Tesla Model S prototype
2009 Tesla Model S Prototype
130 mph
248 hp
160 – 300 mile range
2016 Faraday Future FFZero concept
2016 Faraday Future FFZero concept
2016 Faraday Future FFZero Concept
200 mph
1,000 hp
Unknown range
Fisker EMotion
Fisker EMotion
2018 Fisker Emotion Concept
161 mph
775 hp
400 mile range
2021 VW ID4 record setter
2021 VW ID4 record setter
2021 Volkswagen ID4 EV Record Setter
99 mph
201 hp
250 driving range
Alpha Wolf electric truck concept
Alpha Wolf electric truck concept
2021 Alpha Wolf Electric Truck Concept
125 mph
215 hp
275 mile range
For more information or to visit.
The Petersen Automotive Museum
6060 Wilshire Boulevard (at Fairfax)
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323-930-2277
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Story and photos by John Faulkner
[See image gallery at cleanfleetreport.com]The post Event: “Building an Electric Future” at the Petersen first appeared on Clean Fleet Report.
Source: Clean Fleet Report