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One hundred years ago, electric cars seemed as promising a technology as the overly-complex internal combustion vehicles of the day. In fact, when gas prices soared during WWI, EV sales in cities were bumping. In this promising market, a new EV startup made a splash: Detroit Electric.

Today, this name conjures up images of the Movement electronic music festival in downtown Detroit. But from 1907 to 1939, it was a luxury division of the Anderson Electric Car Company. This brand built 13,000 electric luxury vehicles. Some for famous customers such as Clara Ford.

By the early 1920s, you could by a Ford Model T (introduced in 1908) for $370. That’s $5,300 adjusted for inflation. And before you comment on that price, know that you were getting a rig with a top speed of 40 mph (maybe) that was a pain to shift, took expertise to start, took luck to stop, and could break your hand if it backfired while you were hand cranking.

In those days, many electric automakers targeted female drivers. Rich female drivers. The 1922 Detroit Electric Model 90 Coupe in the Henry Ford Museum had a $2,985 MSRP but was optioned to almost $4,000. That would be $61,500 today.

Green Detroit electric coupe.
Detroit Electric Coupe | Alf van Beem via Wikimedia Commons

So what could Clara Ford get at those prices? An opulent coupe with an interior fashioned after a Victorian sitting room. It had curved windows. And a flower vase!

Today, “backseat driver” is a phrase that refers to a bossy passenger. But Detroit Electric took it seriously. The Model 90 had a plush forward-facing loveseat for the driver and a passenger. In front of this bench were two pivoting seats or stools for additional passengers.

How did you drive it? Hit the “on” switch, fold down the tiller (yes, the steering tiller), fold down the hand accelerator and set it to one of four speeds. Then off you went. Apparently, with the accelerator at top speed it can really launch. Good thing its couch-seat is plush.

Other controls included a reverse pedal at the base of the couch-seat and a brake pedal just ahead of that has settings for stopping and a parking brake.

So what about the lack of visibility and trying to steer from the rear seat with a tiller? It helps that the little coupe’s top speed is 25 mph. In the days before shock absorbers, anti-sway bars, and hydraulic brakes you might not have wanted to go faster. Detroit Electric advertised a 80 mile range, with the optional Edison nickel-iron battery.

See what it is like to drive the Detroit Electric in the video below:

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.