The Early Electric Car
Electric cars are an old idea – over 100 years old, and even then, they were appreciated for their quieter engines and absence of fumes. The Waverly company advertised its “noiseless” engine as early as 1909, though it had already introduced other electric models to the market.
“To help promote sales, the company published ‘A Day with a Silent Waverley.’ This pamphlet charted the day of a fictitious woman as she rolled up the miles in the Silent Waverley traveling from the office, school, shopping, and other engagements. She was able to travel, according to the pamphlet, without the fussing and fuming of gasoline autos.”
As a bonus, the electric car was easier to start for women because it didn’t require the physical strength combustion-engine cars needed, contributing to women’s driving independence.
Dennis E. Horvath