Electrobat
The Electrobat was the first successful electric automobile to ever be created. Mechanical engineer Henry G. Morris and chemist Pedro G. Salom from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania were responsible for this marvel of engineering. With solid backgrounds in battery streetcars, they decided to team up and make battery road vehicles. The Electrobat was the result of their combined efforts. It was patented on August 31, 1894 and it entered production in 1895. It was a slow, heavy vehicle, built like a smaller version of a battery streetcar. Moris and Salom then founded the Morris and Salom Electric Wagon and Carriage Company – the first electric car company in the United States of America.
With continuous research and development, the later versions of the Electrobat were lighter, faster and less ungainly. They had pneumatic tires and steered by their rear wheels. The newer versions ran on two 1.5-horsepower (1.1 kW) motors that worked for 25 miles (40 km) per charge at 20 mph (32 km/h). Morris and Salom then expanded their business and went on to build about a dozen hansom cabs based on this model. These cabs competed with the horse-drawn cabs then in service in New York City. Morris and Salom based their strategy upon the model of livery stables that leased horses and carriages by the trip, by the day, or even by the month.
Pedro J. Salom was the president of the Electrical Lead Reduction Company which was incorporated in 1899. This company produced products supporting the manufacturing of early batteries. Salom was an electrochemical engineer. He then went on to create the Electrobat with Henry G. Morris.
The electrobat was a marvel of science. It was a breakthrough like no other. Morris and Salom then sold their patent to Isaac Rice of Electric Storage Battery and the company went on to become the Electric Vehicle Company.
Morris and Salom made 4 types of Electrobats. The first type was made in 1894 and weighed 4,250 lbs with a 1,600 lb battery. It drove 50 miles at up to 15 mph. It had steel tires to support its weight. As research increased, the further models became vastly better. The second model was improved and it weighed 1,650 lbs with a 640 lb battery. The model had two 1 1/2 hp motors, pneumatic tires, and drove upto 25 miles per charge at 20 MPH. The body was designed and made at the Charles S Caffery Carriage Co, across the river in Camden New Jersey, (with the help of Walter C Baker’s bearings and axles). They steered by their rear wheels. The fourth prototype was made in the late 1895 and was even lighter than the others. This model was the best of the lot and it weighed 800 lbs with a 350 lb battery with two 75 lb motors and it drove at 15 mph for 20-25 miles.
The Electrobat II took the Judges’ Medal at America’s first automobile contest, the Chicago Times-Herald race in 1895. Two years later, in 1897, they were given the Philadelphia Scott Medal, which was an international award given to those who contributed to the advancement of humankind. The Electrobat made history and contributed greatly to man’s understanding of automobiles.
- Ayesha Sruti Ahmed
Tags: battery streetcar, electric automobile, electric car, electrobat, henry morris, pedro salom
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