Historic Technology that Works
History of Nickel Iron Batteries
Historic Electric Car Running on Nickel Iron (Ni-Fe) Batteries from 1912 to 1997
In North America Ni-Fe batteries have been out of production since 1973, when the Exide Battery company bought the process and took them out of production for unknown reasons. Lots to read at the Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association about these batteres.
Detroit Electric Car from 1912 ran on Nickel Iron Battery.
This car ran from 1912 to 1997 on the same Nickel Iron storage battery. Go to the Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association to read the story!
Shown above is VEVA’s 1912 Detroit Electric. This car was owned by Mrs. Florence French of Victoria, BC from 1912 till the 1950s. It was driven regularly until the mid-1950s. Electric cars were popular with the ladies due to the ease of starting, quietness and smoke-free cleanliness. The original Nickel-Iron batteries were replaced in the late 1990s because the cases were failing. After fixing a case leak they still worked fine after 85 years of operation! Visit the Detroit Electric at home in the Stave Falls BC Hydro powerhouse museum, also built in 1912! The museum is near Mission, BC at 31338 Dewdney Trunk Road. Call ahead at 604-462-1222 for hours. Jay Leno owns two of them, and one of them is Ni-Fe powered. His wife drives one of them and she says the worst thing about them is the silent operation which has caused her to almost run over dogs, cats, deer and pedestrians that walk across the road without noticing the silent car. The BC Provincial Museum in Victoria BC Canada also has one on display running on Ni-Fe batteries.
This technology is being re-introduced by Microsec R&D Inc. It is ideal for renewable energy storage. Through the formation of the Nickel Iron Battery Association manufacturers and suppliers can exchange ideas and improvements to this century old battery technology.
Click Here to go see the Nickel Iron Battery Association Website.
The plug in electric boat of 1893
Plug in Electric Boats from Chicago Worlds Fair 1893.
Chicago Worlds Fair Plug In Electric Boat from 1893. 36 feel long there were 55 of them.
This plug-in electric boat was featured at the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893. This amazing fleet of 55 in number 36 foot long electric boats carried during two years over a million passengers in an almost silent powered electric boat. They made a profit of over $300,000 in 1893 to 1894. In today’s money that is 40 million! The battery technology used remains a mystery. It was based on Potassium Permanganate. The Elco company that made the boat is still in business today, well over 117 years ago.
Click Here to Read Link to the Elco Company History
The Avro Arrow Jet (1957)
Legendary Canadian Designed Jet the Avro Arrow
Avro Arrow fastest jet of 1959 destroyed by Canadian Convervative Government for unknown reasons.
Click Link to Read History of Avro Arrow.
Page Updated April 2 2014