1909 Baker Electric- from Jay Leno’s Garage
1909 Baker Electric SEE MORE at.... www.jaylenosgarage.com .... Although a crude electric carriage was originally crea...
1909 Baker Electric SEE MORE at…. www.jaylenosgarage.com …. Although a crude electric carriage was originally created in Scotland in the late 1830s, the first functional electric car in the United States was produced in 1891. For the next decade, the clean, quiet electric car was the king of the road. In 1899, an electric car broke the vehicular land speed record, and by 1900, there were more electric cars than any other kind in the US, accounting for 38% of the nations car market. Jay still uses his Bakers original Edison batteries. In 1898, the same year that gasoline-powered vehicles first appeared, automotive innovator Walter C. Baker started the Baker Motor Vehicle Company in Cleveland, Ohio to produce his electric cars. His company went on to manufacture more electric vehicles than any other company in history, despite the fact that it ceased production of them in 1916. Baker presented the first ever shaft-driven automobile at the first American auto show at Madison Square Garden, and is said to have sold his first electric car to Thomas Edison, who developed its batteries. Jay still uses his 1909 Bakers original Edison batteries. He just washes them out occasionally and refills them, and they work fine. The essentially maintenance-free Baker Electric was a high coupe with carriage styling, brass fittings and tillers instead of steering wheels. With no cranks, no fumes and no mess, the cars were very appealing to women, and were soon designed and marketed …
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Good stuff! This is one of the reasons why I like Jay Leno so much; he’s truly a great guy who likes to show people cool stuff and make ‘em laugh.
Wow, I’m quite surprised they’d had advanced so far by 1909. 110miles on a charge. . . amazing! Slightly odd aerodynamics ha ha
an amazing little thing!
I really do smile when I see people that have the means to save abit of our history & have a passion for it!
so Thanks Jay, it’s lovely of you to show us all abit of the wonders of auto-history (past & present)
New generation of kids and adults, please have this video and knowledge inspire you to go ahead and really let go of having your pockets lined by the oil Lobby and make a new Lobby of being cool, new edge, simple life of integrity of things that last, don’t break down. . and like the iPod. . . no fear that just because it is perfect people won’t buy more. . . . we just won’t be buying batteries or gas! New Gen Rock Our World! Thank you! We love you Jay Leno!
Leno screwed Johnny, Dave ,Rosie, and now Conan. It would be very easy for Leno , to say no to the Tonight Show, but he will always be a lying back stabber
110 mile on a charge in 1909 ?
the GM volt could only do 40
then a piston engine generatior takes over after that don’t even call it an electric car its a hybrid
@Louiskst it’s electiric, it doesn’t make a sound
that has better range, speed, comfort and luggage space than a gee-whizz
why can’t people make a good electric car that most people can afford?
WHAT A PIECE.
guys let’s not forget that the evolution of the electric car paused in 1930′s with the invention of the starter in petrol engines. they came back in the 90′s!!!!!! that’s 60 years!!!!!!
60 years is what took us from eniac to the modern laptops and netbooks
The same applies to certain airplanes; most new technology since the 1970s has been micro-based; the Moon Landing was the last great leap. And airplanes were already around in 1909; although the rumor of commercial space travel soon warms my heart a bit.
we do drive flying cars, they are called ”airplanes”. they are pretty cool acually.
Does anyone else find it amazing how after 100 years the electric car hasnt improved a whole lot. The technology from 100 years was basicly the same as today beside computers just everything has been refinded since than but not much improved. We’re spose to be driving flying cars by now wtf.
i totally agrree
That’s extremely cool. Sucks that they were trying to emulate an old timey look with the film. I wanted to see it drive and it was hard to hear him talk let alone have any sort of chance to hear what the motor sounded like.
women liked these cars for the main reason that you did not have to get out and crank start them like the gasoline cars of the time. Cranking a gas car of this era was total hell even for a burley male, especially in the winter. My late father told me it was not unusual for the crank to kick backwards when they started and break a hand or arm.
“But I’m sure it would be very impractical unless your only journey is no more than a couple of miles on quiet roads to get a few groceries or go to work!”
like 95% of car use now?
I love that car- it’s just like an electric stagecoach! But I’m sure it would be very impractical unless your only journey is no more than a couple of miles on quiet roads to get a few groceries or go to work!
But I agree that a car not too dissimilar to that really is the future of personal transport.
The future is now! Back in 1900!?!?!
It looks cool and I’m glad he’s one of a few that’s keep one and preserved it for the future to look back on.
But. . . I’m a woman. And when I saw this I didn’t say OO hoooow cuuute! I said Oh. . . hey that’s interesting!
I actually didn’t like the interior at all. . . . oh wow. . . but I’m glad these are still around. History is good. Glad he shared with us!
they are too. next year nissan is bringing the nissan leaf to the states, UK, and japan too. im so buying one too.
that is crazy cool. it sounds like the old gm ev1 back in its day.
Nice clip, too bad they did that stupid black and white shot, that blurred it all up. . .
*More Electric cars = less oil profit*
You do know every “Big Oil” company makes Batteries, Solar Panels,Wind Mills, Geothermal plants, Nuclear, hydrogen fuel cells, Biofuels, Hydroelectric to some degree or another?
Exxon is the developer of Fuel Cells and the GM Volts Battery Array, and BP Pickens Windfarm Idea is sponsered by Shell
Yeah “Big Oil” rather make just Billion in Oil rather then Trillions in more expensive technology nobody wanted to pay for like that $140,00 electric car
sexy!