In London’s busy streets near the end of the 1800s, a change began. On August 19, 1897, London saw its first paid electric taxi service. The taxi used a new Bersey Electric Cab. Inventor Walter Bersey built it. The electric cab changed how people used public travel.
The Bersey Electric Cab: A Mechanical Marvel
The Bersey Electric Cab looked like a horse-drawn carriage. Its design made it feel familiar to riders.
The cab had a look that stayed close to common style. It was made to give a soft ride. The drive came from a Johnson-Lundell electric motor. The motor gave 2.2 to 8 horsepower for the ride. The cab could go up to 12 miles per hour (about 19 km/h). One full charge moved it about 30 to 35 miles. It held 40 grid-plate traction batteries. Workers could change these batteries fast at the London Electrical Cab Company’s depot in Lambeth. A hydraulic lift helped change the batteries with ease.
The Launch and Initial Reception
After careful tests, Bersey’s cabs left the depot with 12 taxis. They earned the nickname "hummingbirds" from their soft motor sound. Many riders tried the cabs. People, including the Prince of Wales, took a ride in quiet comfort. The sound was mild when compared to noisy horse-drawn vehicles.
The cabs had faults too. They weighed over 2 tons. This weight caused early wear on tyres and batteries. Many breakdowns came soon after the launch. Riders grew upset, and the press spread news of the faults. The story of the electric cab then lost its shine.
Economic Challenges and Operational Struggles
Money problems soon hit the company. In its first year, the company lost £6,200 (which is over £840,000 today). High costs for tyres and batteries made work hard for the company. The plan to expand did not work. People who drove horse-drawn cabs felt at risk. They spoke out against the electric cabs. The newspaper repeated these worries. The doubts about the service grew, and the company closed in August 1899. ## Legacy of the Bersey Electric Cab
Even with its brief time, the Bersey Electric Cab moved public travel forward. The electric cab showed that powered vehicles had a past. Over a hundred years back, a change was born in London’s travel. The memory of the electric cab reminds us of early work in new ideas. Although the cabs stopped running, their work helped future electric vehicles start. In 2019, London saw newly made electric taxis such as the Nissan Dynamo. These new cabs brought back the idea of cleaner, quieter city streets.
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