1918 Detroit Electric Runs Again With Modern Batteries

A 108-year-old electric car just got a new lease on life, proving that the future of transportation has deeper roots than most people realize.

The 1918 Detroit Electric Model 75B Brougham coupe recently underwent a full restoration that tackled the biggest challenge facing antique EVs: replacing batteries that have long since turned to dust. While vintage gasoline engines can be rebuilt indefinitely, century-old battery technology simply can't be saved.

The solution was surprisingly modern. The restoration team installed contemporary batteries, likely sourced from scrapped modern EVs or conversion specialists. Now the elegant coupe actually runs, ready to roll across the auction block at Mecum's 2026 Monterey Car Week.

When new, this Detroit Electric could travel about 80 miles on a charge and reach speeds of 20 mph. The listing doesn't reveal whether the modern batteries improved those specs, but the car's return to working condition represents a small victory for automotive preservation.

Detroit Electric's story reminds us that electric vehicles aren't a recent invention. The Anderson Carriage Company pivoted to EVs in 1907, decades before climate change became a household concern.

Back then, the pitch was simple: electric cars were quieter and easier to operate than gasoline models. Range anxiety plagued gas car drivers just as much as EV owners since gas stations were rare. The smell of gasoline seemed strange to people, and hand cranks made internal combustion engines intimidating for newcomers.

Why This Inspires

This restoration bridges more than a century of automotive innovation. It shows that good ideas don't age, they just wait for the right technology to catch up.

The car's original design reveals fascinating priorities from another era. Drivers sat facing passengers and steered with a tiller, creating a living room atmosphere. The interior even included built-in flower vases, 90 years before the Volkswagen New Beetle tried the same trick.

Detroit Electric competed with brands like Milburn and Baker in the early EV market. Even Henry Ford and Packard president Henry Joy bought Detroit Electrics for their wives, despite their own investments in gasoline technology.

The company lasted until 1939 before electric cars lost ground to internal combustion. A 2013 revival attempt fizzled, but this restored 1918 model carries the torch forward.

Jay Leno owns a similar 1914 Detroit Electric being converted with Nissan Leaf batteries, showing growing interest in keeping these automotive pioneers alive. Each restoration writes another chapter in the surprisingly long history of electric transportation.

This century-old car rolling again proves that innovation often circles back to rediscover what worked all along.