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1901 Columbia Electric news, pictures, and information | ||
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 | Mark XXX Seabright Runabout |
The top speed of this car was 28 mph, with three-forward speeds and two-reverse speeds. The Open Lead Acid batteries had a range of 45 miles and could be charged overnight. The original cost was $650.00. This is an unrestored car.
In 1877 the Pope Manufacturing Company was founded and during its life span would produce bicycles, motorbikes, furniture, automobiles, and more. Founded by Col. Albert Pope, it is credited with many industry inventions and innovations. The Pope Manufacturing Company produced bicycles beginning in 1877 and progressed throughout the years selling various types of bicycles, tricycles, and tires. In 1894 a new office building was erected in Hartford, Ct due to increasing sales and prosperity. In 1985 Pope started purchasing his competition, buying over 70 companies and merging them into his 'American Bicycle Company'. The emergence of the automobile was beginning its slow evolution and Pope realized its potential, forming companies and building factories poised at automobile production. In 1896 an experimental automobile was created and dubbed the Mark I Phaeton Electric car. In 1987 the Mark III was developed with a price tag of around $3000, a hefty price tag at the time. Both the electric and gasoline powered automobiles were produced, most in tricycle form. The electric cars were called the Columbia and produced from 1897 through 1907 by a variety of companies in Hartford Ct.
In 1899 the Columbia Electric Coach was built for the New York City Transit used to transport dignitaries from the railroad station to city offices. The clientele list quickly expanded including many professions such as Doctors who needed transportation to and from their patient's houses.
The brochures for the vehicles guaranteed 'The vehicle were built with the best materials in the world under methods and processes more advanced than those employed in any automobile factory. No consideration of the cost of production has been permitted to interfere with making perfect every part and piece of each model, whether pertaining to mechanism, bodywork, or general equipment. The expense of making the crankshafts, for instance, is six times greater than that of any previously made in this country. We guarantee that these cars, each according to its power and place, will yield the greatest things possible in motor service.'
The Columbia Electric Carriages produced Victoria-Phaetons, Runabouts, Broughams, Landaulets, Hansoms, Surreys, Delivery Wagons and trucks.
The electric automobile was abandoned around 1906 in favor of gasoline powered automobiles. Examples include the Mark XLVII, XLVI, and XLIV-2, among others. The Columbia Mark LX electric runabout was crated by the Electric Vehicle Company of Hartford, Connecticut. It weighed about 1200 pounds and sat atop a 64 inch wheelbase. The bulk of the weight was due to the 20 two-volt cell batteries and motor. The batteries were placed under the seat producing a top speed of around fifteen miles per hour and allowing for 40 miles of total travel on a single charge.
The automotive industry was very new and the power to drive the vehicles were still being fine-tuned and experiments were still being conducted. The steam powered vehicles, such as the Stanley Steamer, offered great potential due to its quiet ride and low cost. The draw backs were that it took time to start the vehicle and the steam chambers often exploded. The electric cars were quick to start and dependable. The issues being the distance would travel before it lost its charge. The gasoline powered vehicles used a flammable source, were difficult to start, and required maintenance. As time progressed, the gasoline powered engines became the popular choice and the alternatives were no longer offered. This is true for the Columbia automobile, which closed its doors in 1912.
By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2008
In 1899 the Columbia Electric Coach was built for the New York City Transit used to transport dignitaries from the railroad station to city offices. The clientele list quickly expanded including many professions such as Doctors who needed transportation to and from their patient's houses.
The brochures for the vehicles guaranteed 'The vehicle were built with the best materials in the world under methods and processes more advanced than those employed in any automobile factory. No consideration of the cost of production has been permitted to interfere with making perfect every part and piece of each model, whether pertaining to mechanism, bodywork, or general equipment. The expense of making the crankshafts, for instance, is six times greater than that of any previously made in this country. We guarantee that these cars, each according to its power and place, will yield the greatest things possible in motor service.'
The Columbia Electric Carriages produced Victoria-Phaetons, Runabouts, Broughams, Landaulets, Hansoms, Surreys, Delivery Wagons and trucks.
The electric automobile was abandoned around 1906 in favor of gasoline powered automobiles. Examples include the Mark XLVII, XLVI, and XLIV-2, among others. The Columbia Mark LX electric runabout was crated by the Electric Vehicle Company of Hartford, Connecticut. It weighed about 1200 pounds and sat atop a 64 inch wheelbase. The bulk of the weight was due to the 20 two-volt cell batteries and motor. The batteries were placed under the seat producing a top speed of around fifteen miles per hour and allowing for 40 miles of total travel on a single charge.
The automotive industry was very new and the power to drive the vehicles were still being fine-tuned and experiments were still being conducted. The steam powered vehicles, such as the Stanley Steamer, offered great potential due to its quiet ride and low cost. The draw backs were that it took time to start the vehicle and the steam chambers often exploded. The electric cars were quick to start and dependable. The issues being the distance would travel before it lost its charge. The gasoline powered vehicles used a flammable source, were difficult to start, and required maintenance. As time progressed, the gasoline powered engines became the popular choice and the alternatives were no longer offered. This is true for the Columbia automobile, which closed its doors in 1912.
By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2008
| Nissan, New York City Launch Leaf Electric Vehicle Taxi Pilot | |
 | To celebrate Earth Day, Nissan and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg today launched a new electric vehicle taxi pilot with the world's best-selling electric car, Nissan LEAF. This pilot program, which puts six LEAF taxis into service beginning this spring, will help Nissan, the city, the taxi industry and the public understand how zero emission vehicles can be integrated into future taxi fleets. Joe Castelli, vice president, Nissan Commercial Vehicles said: 'As part of our commitment to z...[Read more...] |
| World'S Fastest Ev – Detroit Electric Sp:01 – Makes Global Public Debut At Shanghai Motor Show | |
 | • Limited-edition SP:01 is world's fastest pure-electric production sports car– 155 mph (249 km/h)top speed and 0-62 mph (0-100km/h) in 3.7 seconds
• SP:01boasts a carbon-fibre body, luxurious and high-tech interior, and range of over 180 miles • Customer orders already confirmed Detroit Electric's new high-performance electric sports car, the SP:01, received its global public reveal at the Shanghai Motor Show today (20 April 2013). A limited-edition, two-seat pure-ele...[Read more...] |
| DRAYSON RACING TO ASK MOTORSPORT FANS WHICH TOP-LEVEL RACERS AND TECHNOLOGIES THEY WANT IN FORMULA E | |
| April 19 2013, Oxford, UK – Drayson Racing has announced the start of its search for two top-level professional racing drivers for its entry in the new FIA Formula E Championship for electric cars. The Drayson Racing team were the first to announce their participation in Formula E, with the new championship expecting ten teams from all over the world to line-up for the inaugural race in 2014. At a recent Formula E press conference, Lord Drayson, Team Principal, expressed his intention to app...[Read more...] | |
| Project Visio.M: Electric mass mobility for urban environments. | |
 | Electric vehicles powered by electricity from renewable energy sources are an attractive option for mobility within the urban area and beyond. However, previous approaches lead to vehicles that either are too heavy and too expensive or do not meet mass-market safety requirements. Within the joint research project Visio.M scientists at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM), in cooperation with engineers from the automotive industry, will develop concepts to produce electric cars that are eff...[Read more...] |
| 2012 Mitsubishi i Named a 10 Best Green Car by Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com | |
 | Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) has seen its breakthrough 100% electric-powered 2012 Mitsubishi receive yet another prestigious accolade with today's announcement by Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com that the Japanese auto manufacturer's all-new EV has made its '10 Best Green Cars of 2012' list. In naming the 2012 Mitsubishi i to the 2012 list of '10 Best Green Cars,' Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com proclaimed that 'the newest all-electric car on the block is also the least expensive and ha...[Read more...] |
| Similarly Priced Vehicles from 1901 |
| Oldsmobile Model R Curved Dash Runabout ($650-$650) |
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| Columbia: 1901-1910 |
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