History of cars shows early electric ideas hidden by the rise of gasoline models. One event in the late 1800s shows brave minds and smart tech in electric travel. On April 29, 1899, a Belgian racing car named La Jamais Contente beat speed records. The car went over 100 km/h (about 62 mph). This win set a new record for electric cars and marked a key moment in electric travel.
The Marvel of La Jamais Contente
Engineers built La Jamais Contente by Compagnie Internationale des Transports Automobiles Électriques. The name means "The Never Satisfied" in French. The car had a long, narrow body that let air flow by it. Its body used a light yet strong alloy made of aluminum, tungsten, and magnesium. This mix kept weight low and strength high.
Two electric motors powered the car. Each motor delivered 25 kilowatts and together made about 68 horsepower. The motors turned the rear wheels with chains. They ran on 200 volts and drew 124 amperes each. Heavy lead-acid batteries added to the weight of about 1,450 kilograms (3,200 pounds). Michelin provided the tires that tied the parts together.
Breaking the 100 km/h Barrier
At Achères near Paris, engineer and driver Camille Jenatzy drove the car with skill. Camille reached a top speed of 105.88 km/h (65.79 mph). This beat an earlier record of 92.78 km/h set by Count Gaston de Chasseloup-Laubat in a Jeantaud electric vehicle. For the first time, any car had passed the 100 km/h mark.
Camille, nicknamed "Le Diable Rouge" (meaning "The Red Devil") for his red beard, worked as a mechanical engineer. His love for electric drive and fierce spirit showed in his work on this fast car. Even though the car’s tall seating and open chassis slowed its body shape a bit, it still reached high speeds.
Context: The Electric Vehicle Renaissance of the Late 19th Century
At the start of the 20th century, electric cars were popular for city travel. They moved quiet and smooth on the roads. People saw them as a smart choice over noisy and clunky gasoline vehicles. Earlier models like the Jeantaud had set a land speed record of 63.13 km/h (39.2 mph) in December 1898. This happened just months before Jenatzy’s record.
At that time, new battery and motor ideas grew fast. Direct current motors, improved by inventors such as Zénobe Gramme, helped speed up progress. Electric vehicles ran in France, Belgium, and the United States. In some cities like New York and Philadelphia, electric taxis already worked in the late 1890s.
Yet heavy batteries, short range, and high costs slowed progress when oil became cheaper and gasoline cars grew in power. Models like the Ford Model T and new engine parts took charge over the coming years.
Legacy and Modern Relevance
Today, La Jamais Contente stands as a sign of early electric skill. The original car sits in the National Car and Tourism Museum in Compiègne, France. It marks its role in the past of car travel.
The feat by Camille Jenatzy and his car lives on in today’s electric speed records and modern electric cars. The bold work of the past reminds us that electric travel has deep roots. In a time when electric cars gain ground to fight climate change and cut fuel use, the story of La Jamais Contente helps keep the spark of old ideas burning.
References for further reading:
- Wikipedia contributors, “La Jamais Contente,” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Jamais_Contente
- Museums in the Park, “La Jamais Contente: First Speed Record,” https://www.museesentransport.be
- Jennifer Eaglin, “The Jeantaud Electric Car Land Speed Record,” Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective, December 2023, https://origins.osu.edu/read/jeantaud-electric-car-land-speed-record
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