The First NYC Taxis

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At the turn of the 20th century, the gas engines hadn't taken off yet. Gas, steam-powered, and electric vehicles held about 1/3 of the automobile market. The electric car was a big favorite because it produced no bad pollution and they were much quieter than the gas and steam-powered ones. The only disadvantage was that they didn't have much of a range. The Electrobat was one of the first electric cars in America. It was built for rough city roads, made from a ship's motor and well-built carriage. It had a 1,600-pound lead-acid battery but was ideal for short trips in the city. This was the basis for the first cab company in New York City. The Electric Carriage and Wagon Company was founded in 1896. The founders even came up with a clever batter-swapping station made from an old skating rink on Broadway. It's first month of service in April 1899 reported 1,000 trips. But with public opinion and the service itself, the company went downhill when it tried to expand. The new facilities were not well managed, with badly trained drivers and this led to them shutting down in 1907. Electric cars didn't return to the Big Apple until 2022.