When Electric Cars Were for Women
At the turn of the last century, the automobile industry was rapidly evolving. In 1898, there were about 50 carmakers in the United States, increasing to 250 by 1908. By 1901, these companies produced 7,000 vehicles, and by 1910, production surged to 181,000.
Electric cars competed with steam and internal combustion vehicles, with no clear winner in sight. Steam had the advantage of locomotive technology but posed fire risks. Both gasoline and electric cars faced challenges regarding travel distances without refueling or charging. While an extra can of gasoline could be carried, charging a battery required more planning, and the infrastructure for long-distance travel was not yet established.
Before the electric starter was introduced in 1911, gasoline engines had to be started with a hand crank, making them noisy and emitting unpleasant fumes. In contrast, electric vehicles were simple to start; drivers only needed to turn on the main battery switch, often with a key, and they produced no exhaust.
Electric car manufacturers marketed their vehicles as perfect for women, emphasizing their ease of use and cleanliness. General Electric, which produced car chargers using mercury-arc rectifiers, created advertisements featuring stylishly dressed women plugging in their cars.
A notable early adopter was Fannie Goodnow, who owned a 1908 Bailey Victoria Phaeton, an open two-seater resembling a horseless carriage. She charged her vehicle using a GE mercury-arc rectifier.
Who Invented the Mercury-Arc Rectifier?
Electrical engineer Peter Cooper Hewitt is credited with inventing the mercury-arc rectifier. In the early 20th century, he received several U.S. patents for electric lamps and devices for transmitting electric currents. The mercury-arc rectifier converted alternating current from the power grid into direct current needed to charge a car’s battery. It typically took about 12 hours to charge a drained battery.
A Carriage Maker Pivots to Electric Cars
Records do not specify why Fannie Goodnow chose an electric car, but as a wealthy woman in Boston, she had numerous manufacturers to select from. She opted for S.R. Bailey & Co. of Amesbury, Massachusetts. Samuel Robinson Bailey began his career in the carriage business and established his own company in 1882, gaining recognition for innovative designs.
As automobiles began to dominate the market, S.R. Bailey & Co. announced its entry into electric vehicles in December 1906. Bailey’s first electric model, the Victoria Phaeton, utilized an Edison alkaline battery, which initially leaked and failed to hold a charge. Bailey later switched to a battery from Gould Storage Battery Co., providing a range of 64 to 80 kilometers. The standard model was priced at US $2,000 (approximately $73,000 today).
Goodnow installed a mercury-arc rectifier charging station in her parents’ summer home in Hull, Massachusetts. Early adopters faced challenges with nonstandardized plugs and cables, leading to the formation of the Electric Vehicle Association of America in 1910 to establish charging standards.
When Edison’s improved battery became available, Bailey began using it in the Victoria Phaeton and launched a publicity campaign, sponsoring a round-trip tour from New York to Boston, covering about 1,600 kilometers. Ultimately, S.R. Bailey could not compete with the rising popularity of the Model T and sold its factory in 1915, having produced around 500 to 600 electric vehicles.
Although Fannie Goodnow’s choice of vehicle was a brief moment in automotive history, her charging station remained until 2022, when it was donated to the Heritage Museums & Gardens in Sandwich, Massachusetts, where it continues to share stories of technological change.
Related link: heritagemuseumsandgardens.org
Source: IEEE Spectrum