This 1918 Detroit Electric is equipped with modern batteries and is fully operational.

      Mecum Auctions

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      Electric vehicles face certain difficulties in a world designed for internal combustion engines, and I’m not merely referring to the scarcity of public charging stations or an automotive industry hesitant to embrace change. EVs have been around nearly as long as automobiles themselves, but while an engine can be refurbished, century-old batteries offer little in terms of solutions.

      The proprietor of this 1918 Detroit Electric Model 75B Brougham coupe—one of the items at Mecum’s 2026 Monterey Car Week auction—addressed this by installing modern batteries during a comprehensive restoration. The listing claims the restoration met “concours standards,” yet given the emphasis on authenticity in judging, it’s uncertain how this vehicle would perform in concours events. At the very least, it actually operates.

      The listing does not detail which modern batteries were utilized, but discarded EVs and hybrids, along with various companies specializing in EV conversions for classic cars, are likely sources. For instance, Jay Leno has a 1914 Detroit Electric that is being upgraded with Nissan Leaf battery modules. The effects on range and performance remain ambiguous, with the listing only stating that the 75B had an approximate range of 80 miles and a top speed of about 20 mph when it was original.

      The company that eventually became Detroit Electric was established in 1884 in Detroit as the Anderson Carriage Company. The founders clearly recognized the shifting landscape and introduced the first Detroit Electric car in 1907. During a time when environmental concerns were minimal, electric vehicles were promoted as quieter and easier to operate than their gasoline counterparts. With a limited number of gas stations, range anxiety was an issue for gasoline drivers just as much as it was for EV drivers. Additionally, people were unaccustomed to the odor of gasoline, and the use of hand cranks and manual lubrication made internal combustion vehicles daunting for novices.

      In those less enlightened days, the ability to operate an EV without the hassle of a crank starter or the need to get hands dirty meant that these cars were heavily marketed towards women. Despite being personally invested in a competing technology, both Henry Ford and then-Packard president Henry Joy purchased Detroit Electrics for their spouses. Misogynist stereotypes may have also influenced some design elements. The driver faced the passengers and steered with a tiller, making the interior resemble a living room where affluent women of the era were expected to host guests. Remarkably, a full 90 years before the Volkswagen New Beetle, this car featured built-in flower vases.

      During its peak, Detroit Electric was among numerous EV brands, including Milburn and Baker. Yet with larger companies like Ford and General Motors dedicated to internal combustion, it was inevitable that electric vehicles would fall out of favor. Detroit Electric remained operational until 1939, with a revival attempt in 2013 attempting to follow Tesla’s model with a modified Lotus Elise that ultimately failed to materialize.