1919 Baker, Rauch & Lang Double Drive Coach
Baker, Rauch & Lang “Double Drive Coach” - 1919
USA
engine: 80volt DC Electric
Power - 11 bhp
Max speed - 60 kph
Period of production - 1915-1921
Type body - coupe
Marque bodywork - Baker, Rauch & Lang
Electric traction was successful both in Europe (the first person who drove faster than 100 kph was the Belgian Camille Jenatzy in 1899 in his electric torpedo “Jamais contente”) and in the USA, where in 1894 the first electric taxi cabs circulated in New York; in 1904 one third of the entire American car pool on the road had electric traction and in 1912, 10.000 electric vehicles were produced per year. The electric car was silent, simple, clean and easy to handle: in fact it was the favourite car of high class ladies, who could use it without the help of the chauffeur, that much needed drivermechanic for the complicated petrol cars at the beginning of the century. From the Twenties, electric traction was only used for commercial vehicles: who does not remember the milk delivery vans seen in the American movies?
The car on show was built by Baker, Rauch & Lang. It could be driven, by a bar, both from the front and rear seats: in this case the two front seats turn and the interior becomes a perfect lounge! Considering the dangerous situation, a mechanical system switches on the horn which sounds just like a tram. The car has a driving autonomy of about 70 kilometers.
USA
engine: 80volt DC Electric
Power - 11 bhp
Max speed - 60 kph
Period of production - 1915-1921
Type body - coupe
Marque bodywork - Baker, Rauch & Lang
Electric traction was successful both in Europe (the first person who drove faster than 100 kph was the Belgian Camille Jenatzy in 1899 in his electric torpedo “Jamais contente”) and in the USA, where in 1894 the first electric taxi cabs circulated in New York; in 1904 one third of the entire American car pool on the road had electric traction and in 1912, 10.000 electric vehicles were produced per year. The electric car was silent, simple, clean and easy to handle: in fact it was the favourite car of high class ladies, who could use it without the help of the chauffeur, that much needed drivermechanic for the complicated petrol cars at the beginning of the century. From the Twenties, electric traction was only used for commercial vehicles: who does not remember the milk delivery vans seen in the American movies?
The car on show was built by Baker, Rauch & Lang. It could be driven, by a bar, both from the front and rear seats: in this case the two front seats turn and the interior becomes a perfect lounge! Considering the dangerous situation, a mechanical system switches on the horn which sounds just like a tram. The car has a driving autonomy of about 70 kilometers.
