As Gas Cars Made Their Debut on Toronto Streets, the City Emerged as an EV Manufacturing Hub

Electric Dreams: The Early Days of EVs in Toronto

So, here’s a fun tidbit: while we all know Tesla as the king of modern electric vehicles (EVs), the reality is, they didn’t actually invent the electric car. Crazy, right? I mean, we’re talking about vehicles that date back almost 200 years. Yep, before gasoline cars even existed, electric ones were already cruising around. And get this, Toronto, of all places, was a hotbed for EV manufacturing back in the day.

Between 1893 and 1913, a handful of Canadian companies (plus one from the U.S.) gave electric vehicles a go. Some of these businesses still kick around today, though if you saw their names, you might not recognize ’em. It’s wild to think about how popular EVs once were when gas engines were all the rage.

Back in the late 1800s, gas engines were basically the shiny new toy, and steam power was just too clunky. That’s when electrics came on the scene, and people were totally here for it. Imagine living in a world where gas engines were a novelty—hard to wrap your head around! But Toronto was ahead of the curve.

An Electrifying Partnership

Let’s dive into the story of electric innovation—meet British engineer William Joseph Still, a real wizard with steam and electrical gizmos. He had this fantastic idea in the 1890s when he convinced Toronto patent lawyer Frederick Barnard Fetherstonhaugh to team up with him. I can just picture them in some cozy coffee shop, sketching out plans for a lightweight battery that could power a car. Talk about ingenious!

Eventually, they joined forces with the Dixon Carriage Company. If you were wandering around Bay and Temperance Streets back then, you would have witnessed the birth of something special—a 320-kilogram wonder that could zip around at 24 kilometers an hour! It was the bee’s knees back then. Fetherstonhaugh loved his new electric ride so much that he drove it daily for fifteen years, charging it at home in Mimico.

He even took it to the Canadian National Exhibition a few times. But, like many good things, this car disappeared from history by the time the 1912 Toronto Auto Show rolled around. It makes you wonder what other stories have slipped through the cracks of time.

From Dreams to Reality

Fast forward a few years, and Still wasn’t done yet. In 1897, he decided to set up the Canadian Motor Syndicate to showcase his electric car designs. The first vehicle? An electric delivery tricycle that debuted at the 1898 Canadian National Exhibition. You can almost feel the excitement in the air! By 1899, Still had come up with a better electric motor, specifically designed for larger vehicles.

He rebranded his company to Still Motor Company Limited (SMC) and got to work. Imagine a buzzing factory on Yonge Street with one of Toronto’s first commercial phone lines. That must’ve been buzzing with activity, not to mention the buzz from the crowd as they watched the electric vehicles roll off the assembly line. It’s kinda cool when you think about the whirl of innovation back then.

Though SMC didn’t always build cars from scratch, their approach was pretty clever. They’d retrofit commercial carriages brought in by clients with motors and batteries. An early client? Parker’s Dye Works, which many of us know today as Parker’s Dry Cleaning. These SMC vehicles quickly became a staple among Toronto’s industrial giants, who were looking for something modern and efficient.

Custom Builds and High Costs

So, how did they fare? The SMC vehicles were light and user-friendly, but here’s the catch—they were mainly custom jobs. High costs meant low profits for the company, which isn’t exactly a sustainable business strategy. Imagine putting all of that energy into making beautiful, innovative vehicles and barely making a dime! It’s enough to make anyone scratch their head.

In 1900, after a buyout from a group of British investors, SMC was transformed into Canadian Motors Limited (CML). They kicked off with some new two- and four-seater passenger electrics, including the Ivanhoes and Oxfords, which had a certain charm to them. I can only imagine driving around in one of those beauties—so retro cool!

But even though they sent tons of vehicles to England, they hit a wall. Sales just didn’t take off like they’d hoped. By 1904, CML bit the dust, closing its doors both in Canada and the UK. And Still? He moved on to greener pastures.

The Legacy Lives On

But here’s the twist: the CML factory didn’t stay empty for long. In 1903, the Canadian Cycle & Motor Company swooped in, and they dived into making electric cars as well. This time, they focused on a model also called the Ivanhoe, which was a huge letdown, only to see it drop off the radar in 1905 for a shift toward gasoline cars instead. If you think about it, it’s kinda funny how trends shifted. One moment it’s all about electrics, and the next, it’s like—“nope, let’s switch back to gas.”

Oh, and here’s a fun fact: while all this was happening, a side hustle popped up making hockey gear under the name “CCM,” which would go on to become a household name. Good ol’ Canadian ingenuity, right?

Competing Forces and Closed Doors

Now, it wasn’t just Canadian companies trying to cash in on the electric hype. Enter the Fischer Equipment Company from Chicago. In 1898, they showcased their fancy Woods Electric cars and trucks in Toronto. People went nuts for them! So much so that they had to reorganize as the Woods Motor Vehicle Company just the following year.

With a board of mostly Canadian bigwigs, they aimed to expand into an electric taxi network based on their designs. Picture bustling Toronto streets filled with electric taxis—cue the excitement! But then came the twist—by 1901, Woods shifted their focus back across the border and continued making electrics in the U.S. until 1918. Timing can be everything, huh?

The electric car market in Canada didn’t completely fizzle out, though. In 1911, the McLaughlin Motorcar Company stepped back into the game, aiming high with luxury electric cars based on an American model’s chassis. I mean, can you imagine rolling up in one of those during a fancy party? Classy!

A Peek into the Past: The Peck Electric

Don’t forget about the local contenders! The Peck Electric, built on Jarvis Street, tried to steal the spotlight at the 1912 Auto Show with the slogan “Keeps Pecking.” They loaded this car up with plush interiors and even splurged on colourful ads to catch people’s eyes. But, spoiler alert, the price tag of $4,000 (over $100,000 today!) scared a lot of potential buyers away. By 1913, the company folded and drifted into obscurity. It’s almost tragic, but fascinating too, how the ambition and innovation sometimes just didn’t align with market realities.

Looking Back to the Future

And here we are today, a century later, and believe it or not, electric vehicles have stormed back into our lives. Every EV on the road now is a chapter in a tale that started a long, long time ago. I can’t help but feel proud that Toronto played a role in the whole story. It’s like history comes cruising back around, bringing with it lessons, innovations, and a little nostalgia.

So next time you see a Tesla zooming down the street, remember—there’s a rich history bubbling beneath the surface. And who knows? Maybe one day, we’ll find ourselves reminiscing about the electric cars of today just like how we do about those early models. After all, innovation never really dies; it just transforms.

FAQs about Electric Cars and Their History

What’s the first electric vehicle ever made?

Believe it or not, electric vehicles have roots that run deeper than most people think! While records are a bit muddled, one of the earliest EVs, the Flocken Elektrowagen, was built in 1889 by a German inventor.

Why did electric cars fall out of favor in the early 1900s?

Well, it was a mix of things. The rise of gasoline engines offered more range and speed. Plus, the oil industry was booming, leading to faster infrastructure development for gas stations. Basically, gas cars stole the spotlight.

Did any of the early electric car companies survive?

It’s a mixed bag! While some companies, like Canadian Cycle & Motor Company, pivoted to different products, most early EV manufacturers didn’t stick around. The market just wasn’t ready for them yet.

What’s changed in electric vehicle technology since the early days?

Everything! Advances in battery technology, electric motors, and even the broader charging infrastructure mean modern EVs are light-years ahead of their ancestors. We’ve come a long way from those early tinkers!

Who are the main players in the current electric vehicle market?

You’ve got your Tesla, of course, but also big names like Ford, Volkswagen, and GM stepping up their game in the EV world. Plus, a host of newer companies looking to disrupt the market!