Taxis Ran Electrically By 1900

By 1900, New York City had a fleet of electric taxis, while battery-powered cars accounted for roughly one-third of American automobiles. The Electric Carriage and Wagon Company introduced 12 electric cabs in 1897 and expanded its fleet to more than 100 by 1899. Electric cars ran quietly, started easily, and produced no exhaust, giving them major advantages over early gasoline cars. Cheaper gasoline vehicles, longer driving ranges, and the arrival of the Ford Model T eventually pushed electric cars out of the market.

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