Car of the future: Electric cars were "extremely popular" 100 years ago, before fossil-fueled cars completely out-competed them

Detroit Electric - Our Story

THE FUTURE BEGAN IN 1907

It’s hard to imagine that back in the early 1900s, electric cars were the most prolific vehicle. And guess who helped spark the movement.

Our founder, William C Anderson made his first Detroit Electric in 1907. By 1910 we were leading the way, selling up to 2,000 cars a year. Petrol cars were unreliable and dirty, but Detroit Electrics could be charged at home and used in an instant - making them extremely popular. Even Henry Ford’s wife drove one.

As the years passed and petrol engines became cheaper and stronger, sales of electric vehicles dropped. Finally, after producing a total of 13,000 cars - a world record for electric vehicles in the 20th century - the last Detroit Electric was shipped in 1939.