Bersey Electric Cab

The Bersey Electric Cab (also known as the London Electrical Cab) was an early electric-powered vehicle and the first electric taxi cab in London. Developed by Walter Bersey the vehicles reportedly had a top speed of 12 mph and could carry two passengers. An initial service of 12 cabs began on 19 August 1897 and a total of 77 were built, with a maximum of 75 in service at once. They were initially popular and were nicknamed "hummingbirds" for the sound they made and their distinctive livery. The vehicles suffered badly from wear in service owing to their heavy weight. This damaged the batteries and tyres, which were expensive to replace, and made their operation unprofitable. The cabs were withdrawn in August 1899 and electric cabs did not return to the streets of London until the Nissan Dynamo was introduced in October 2019.

Design
The Bersey cab was designed by Walter Bersey, an electrical engineer who had earlier constructed an electric powered bus and van, as well as private cars. The cab was driven by a Johnson-Lundell electric motor described variously as 3.5 or 8 horsepower or 2.2 kilowatts. Power was supplied by a bank of 40 grid-plate traction batteries with a total capacity of 170 ampere hours (assuming a 30 ampere demand). The batteries weighed 14 hundredweight (1568 lb) and, being delicate, were hung underneath the chassis on springs. Before going into service, the batteries went through testing on Bersey's "shaking machine" to ensure they would stand up to the rigours of use.

Speed was controlled by means of a lever that provided three options: 3 or, although a top speed of up to 12 mph has been reported. Braking was by means of a foot pedal that disconnected the electrical drive circuit. The cab as a whole weighed 2 long ton and could carry two passengers. The range on a full charge was approximately 30 - 35 mi, barely sufficient for a day's work.

The first cabs were constructed by the Great Horseless Carriage Company, with bodies made by the coachbuilder Mulliner and designed to resemble a traditional horse-drawn coupé cab. Internal and external electric lighting was provided. The vehicle's four wheels were clad with solid rubber tyres that were intended to provide grip on London's greasy pavements. A later version of the cab with larger capacity batteries was built by the Gloucester Railway Waggon Company. A total of 77 cabs of both types were constructed. Bersey said the advantages of his invention were that "there is no smell, no noise, no heat, no vibration, no possible danger, and it has been found that vehicles built on this company's system do not frighten passing horses".

In service
The Bersey cab was first exhibited at a motor show in South Kensington, London, in 1896. An example was entered in the 14 November 1896 London to Brighton emancipation race, a celebration of the passing of the Locomotives on Highways Act 1896 which relaxed regulations and speed limits for road vehicles. The range of the Bersey cab was insufficient to complete the entire 56 mile route and it was transported part of the way by train.

The London Electrical Cab Company ran 12 Bersey cabs in central London, starting on 19 August 1897, after an inauguration which was presided over by eminent electrical engineer William Henry Preece. They were the first self-propelled taxis in the city. As part of their licensing conditions, the Metropolitan Police had stipulated that they should meet four requirements: that they would be driven only by professional drivers, and that they should be able to stop on demand, turn around in a small radius. and be able to climb Savoy Hill, the steepest in the city.

Passengers were charged the same rates as for horse-drawn cabs, and the Berseys were initially quite popular - even the Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VII) travelled in one. They quickly became known as "hummingbirds" for the noise made by their motors and their distinctive black and yellow livery. Passengers reported that the interior fittings were luxurious when compared to horse-drawn cabs, but there were some complaints that the bright internal lighting made them too conspicuous to those outside the cab.

The fleet peaked at around 75 cabs, all of which needed to return to the single depot at Lambeth to switch batteries. This was achieved by means of hydraulic lifts that could complete the operation in 2–3 minutes per cab. The London Electrical Cab Company planned to introduce additional battery charging and exchange depots to expand its coverage and range. Owing to the expense of electricity that was available at the time, the company invested in its own electricity generators.

Fate
The tyres of the cabs suffered because of the heavy weight of the vehicle. After six months of operation they tended to be badly worn and produced increased vibration, which affected the delicate glass plates in the batteries. It also increased the noise emitted by the vehicle. The operation became plagued by breakdowns and the cabs were frequently slower than the horse-drawn alternative. The high cost of replacement batteries and tyres made the operation unprofitable, and the London Electrical Cab Company reported losses of £6,200 in its first year.

The cabs were withdrawn from service and the company closed in August 1899. The downfall of the company was said to have been the result of a campaign by horse-drawn cab drivers and bad press caused by breakdowns and accidents. Fully electric cabs did not return to the city's streets until the introduction of the Nissan Dynamo in October 2019. A Bersey cab survives in the collection of London's Science Museum.