American Electric (1899 automobile)

The American Electric was an early electric automobile manufactured by the American Electric Vehicle Company of Chicago, Illinois, beginning in 1899. The company, led by Clinton Edgar Woods, aimed to produce a reliable and practical electric vehicle for the burgeoning urban market. The American Electric was characterized by its elegant design and relatively long range compared to other electric vehicles of the era. Available in several body styles, including a Stanhope, it was marketed towards affluent customers, particularly women, who sought a clean and quiet alternative to the noisy and often unreliable gasoline-powered cars of the time. The American Electric Vehicle Company faced competition from other electric vehicle manufacturers and transitioned to producing gasoline-powered vehicles in the early 1900s, with the "American Electric" name eventually disappearing from the market. Surviving examples of the American Electric are rare and highly valued by collectors of antique automobiles.