1931 Detroit Electric Model 97

In the earliest days, electric cars represented a significant part of the automobile market. As today, electrics suffered from a lack of range. However, in urban applications, their convenient operation was superior to steam cars, which required a long wait to build up steam and hand-cranked gasoline engines, which were difficult and dangerous to start. Kettering's invention of the electric starter in 1912 spelled the end of electricity and steam as viable alternatives to gasoline engines for the next century.

The Detroit Electric car was built by the Anderson Electric car Company and subsequently the Detroit Electric Car Company from 1907 to 1932. Another fifteen cars were assembled until 1939, along with some refurbished cars. During the entire period, 12,690 cars were produced, of which only 1,450 were built after 1920 as electrics dropped from fashion. The cars had an advertised range of 80 miles between charges. The top speed was only 20 mph which was considered adequate for city driving. Women were the primary customers.