Queen Victoria Phaeton
Electric cars were cleaner, quieter, and easier to drive than gasoline or steam automobiles. S.R. Bailey & Company built the Bailey Electric Phaeton in Amesbury, Massachusetts, from 1907-1915. The company promoted its machines as cross-country vehicles capable of driving 100 miles on a full charge under ideal conditions. This was an impressive claim since most electrics of the time had a limited drive time of 20-2 miles between battery charges.
Despite its simple, carriage-like appearance, the Electric Phaeton was designed to be a sturdy, rugged vehicle. Company founder Samuel R. Bailey was known for perfecting steam wood-bending technology which he utilized in his business empires of hat-making and sleigh and carriage building. After experimenting with cars for several years, Bailey entered the automotive market around 1907. The company only built electrics, all of which used batteries made by the Edison Electric Company - a logical partnership, as Bailey already made light-weight wooden battery trays for Thomas Edison's evolving line of car batteries.
This 1909 Bailey originally sold for $2,000. It had a top speed of 20 mph and used Edison batteries and a General Electric motor. Únlike most electric car companies that produced ponderous enclosed machines with tiller steering, Bailey & Co. generally manufactured open cars with wheel steering. The company was interested in promoting its machines as potential cross-country vehicles, a use generally unsuited to electric cars due to the limited length of battery charges and because of the heavy battery that had to be carried with the car. A Bailey nicknamed 'Maude' performed many daring road tests for its maker and Edison's batteries. 'Maude' famously took part in a 1910 endurance run through four New England states and even climbed Mt. Washington, New Hampshire - an unusual achievement for an electric car.
After only a few years of production and limited success, Bailey ended automobile production in 1915. Edison too shifted focus away from electric cars - by the time his battery was introduced in 1909, electrics were rapidly losing ground to more powerful gas-fueled cars.Source - Frick Auto Museum
1909 Bailey Electric Vehicle Profiles
Recent Vehicle Additions
Performance and Specification Comparison
Price Comparison
Related Automotive News
Volkswagen Group Night At The IAA: Volkswagen Brand Presents The New I.D. Crozz
Volkswagen CEO Dr Herbert Diess The Volkswagen Brand will be investing 6 billion euros in electric mobility over the next five years.
Further developed zero emission SUV concept vehicle offers a look forward to the production model of 2020
The...
ŠKODA AT AUTO SHANGHAI 2017
Mladá Boleslav Shanghai, 18 April 2017 –At the Auto Shanghai exhibition (19-28 April 2017), ŠKODA is celebrating the world premiere of its first fully electrically powered concept car. With the VISION E ŠKODA is underlining its future strategy...
FIRST DETROIT ELECTRIC SP:01 ROLLS OFF THE ASSEMBLY LINE
First SP01 pure electric sports car is produced at Leamington Spa, UK, facility
All-new high-performance model destined for first customer
SP01 is the worlds lightest and fastest two-seat pure-electric sports car
LEAMINGTON SPA, UK – Octobe...
VOLKSWAGEN E-GOLF TO MAKE NORTH AMERICAN DEBUT AT THE LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW
The first fully electric Volkswagen for the U.S. market promises everyday usability and versatility with zero tailpipe emissions and low ownership costs
Drivetrain consists of 24.2 kWh lithium-ion battery and 115 horsepower electric motor 7.2 kW o...
World'S Fastest Ev – Detroit Electric Sp:01 – Makes Global Public Debut At Shanghai Motor Show
Limited-edition SP01 is worlds fastest pure-electric production sports car– 155 mph (249 kmh)top speed and 0-62 mph (0-100kmh) in 3.7 seconds
SP01boasts a carbon-fibre body, luxurious and high-tech interior, and range of over 180 milesb...