A century ago, the prototype of the electric scooter was running around Europe and America.
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In recent years, more and more people are getting around town on rental or personal electric scooters, but in fact, a prototype of the electric scooter was already roaming the streets of Europe and America a century ago. Various online media have compiled information about this early scooter, known as the ' Autoped. '
The e-scooter isn't new – London was zooming around on Autopeds a century ago
https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/the-e-scooter-isnt-new-london-was-zooming-around-on-autopeds-a-century-ago-86263/
Early History of Powered Scooters - the Autoped
https://horizonmicromobility.com/blogs/micromobility-blog/history-of-powered-scooters
Modern electric scooters are often thought to have been born from the latest technology, but in fact their prototype dates back over 100 years. The photo below shows the Autoped, the world's first mass-produced scooter, manufactured in the United States and Germany between 1915 and 1922.
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The Autoped typically had a 155cc gasoline engine, a top speed of over 20 mph (32 km/h), and a range of 125 miles (200 km). An electric version was also sold after battery manufacturer Eveready bought the design, but no photos of this version remain.
It wasn't just ordinary people who rode autopeds; delinquents also used them to escape from police and other criminals, and the US post office also began using autopeds to deliver mail.
By 1919, the Autoped was in full swing in the UK, and Florence Priscilla Lady Norman, a socialite and suffragette, received one as a birthday gift from her husband and commuted to her London office in one. The photo below shows Norman riding an Autoped.
by Wikimedia Commons
The Autoped sold for £36 in the UK in 1919 (equivalent to about £1,600 in banknotes at the time of writing, or about ¥330,000 in Japanese yen), and was targeted at relatively wealthy people. Unfortunately, production of the Autoped ceased in 1922, and it never became popular worldwide.
In addition, you can check out the video of American actress and singer Shirley Kellogg bringing an Autoped to England and riding around on the streets on YouTube.
America's Latest Miss Shirley Kellogg (1917) - YouTube
Kellogg approaches from the far right of the screen on his autopedia. A man passing by struck up a conversation, perhaps curious about the car.
The Autoped glides smoothly across the road, and riding it looks no different from a modern electric scooter.
The Autoped was also featured in the women's magazine 'Lady' as a more comfortable vehicle than a motorcycle, and it seems to have been popular with women as well.
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