At Monterey Car Week, a 1918 Detroit Electric Model 75B electric vehicle attracted attention for its claimed 80-mile range, a notable comparison to the 73-mile EPA-rated range of the 2011 Nissan Leaf, underscoring how early electric vehicle technology was more capable than commonly assumed.
- 1918 Detroit Electric had an advertised 80-mile range vs 2011 Leaf’s 73 miles
- Electric starter and price five times Model T caused EV market decline
- Detroit Electric produced around 13,000 cars from 1907 to 1939
What happened
A 1918 Detroit Electric Model 75B electric car recently auctioned at Monterey Car Week was highlighted for its original advertised range of 80 miles, which surpasses the officially EPA-rated 73 miles of the 2011 Nissan Leaf, the first mass-market electric car. This vintage vehicle was equipped with 42 lead-acid batteries powering a small 4.28 horsepower motor. Despite a modest top speed of 20 mph, the Detroit Electric was a genuine manufacturer with significant production numbers and notable buyers.
The car featured a unique control design with a long lever for steering and a short lever for speed control rather than a conventional steering wheel. While the specific vehicle auctioned had been updated with modern batteries, the original 1918 engineering demonstrated early innovations in EV range and design that challenge the assumption that range has always been the main EV barrier.
Why it matters
The case of the 1918 Detroit Electric underscores that early electric vehicles could compete on range but ultimately lost market share due to other factors. The electric starter introduced in gasoline cars in 1912 eliminated the need for the manual crank, which was a key advantage of electrics, and the price difference was striking. The Detroit Electric cost approximately $2,175, about five times the cost of a Model T Ford, making them unaffordable for most buyers.
This history illustrates that cost and convenience, rather than technology limitations like range, tend to dictate market adoption. Detroit Electric’s production continued until 1939, showing how slowly markets evolve even when technology is viable. It also mirrors contemporary challenges as modern EV prices fluctuate and incentives change, impacting buyer decisions more than raw performance data.
What to watch next
As electric vehicles become increasingly mainstream, the lessons from Detroit Electric’s history remain relevant. Observers should watch how EV manufacturers balance range improvements, pricing, and everyday convenience features to accelerate adoption. The gradual phase-out of incentives in markets like the US puts new pressure on manufacturers to deliver competitively priced, practical EVs that meet consumer expectations.
Additionally, the comparison between historic and modern EV capabilities invites a broader reflection on how innovation cycles unfold. While early electric vehicles demonstrated remarkable range for their era, their commercial success was stymied by broader technological and economic contexts. Future EV developments may benefit from a holistic approach that considers total ownership experience beyond just range metrics.