Kriéger Company of Electric Vehicles (Société des Voitures Électriques Système Kriéger) manufactured electric vehicles in
Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
,
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
from 1898 to 1909.
History

In 1894 (1868–1951) of
Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
,
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
began designing and building
electric automobiles. By 1898, when electric powered vehicle interest increased in France, Kriéger organized the Kriéger Company of Electric Vehicles.
Brougham, Landaulette and Electrolette were three of the models produced. In 1901 43 electric vehicles were produced. In 1902 at least 65 were produced. Kriéger produced or assisted in several racing vehicles including one called 'Powerful' in 1900.
[The electric vehicle: technology and expectations in the automobile age, Gijs Mom, page 21]
The Electrolette was a two-person vehicle. Next to each front wheel was an
electric motor
An electric motor is a machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. Most electric motors operate through the interaction between the motor's magnetic field and electric current in a electromagnetic coil, wire winding to gene ...
of each. The
pinion comes out at the side next the wheel and engages with a large gear wheel which is fixed against it. The gear and pinion are enclosed in a tight case, thus each wheel is turned independently by its own motor. The of
Fulmen batteries are contained in a box which is fixed in the vehicle below the carriage body and is arranged so that it may be easily slid out from the rear. Kriéger claimed at least on a single charge. The Electrolette on a level grade could do , or over an average road.
Kriéger automobiles were pioneers of
regenerative electric brakes. In 1903 Kriéger produced an early
hybrid electric vehicle
A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is a type of hybrid vehicle that couples a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) with one or more electric engines into a hybrid vehicle drivetrain, combined propulsion system. The presence of the electri ...
(HEV) with
front wheel drive
Front-wheel drive (FWD) is a form of internal combustion engine, engine and transmission (mechanics), transmission layout used in motor vehicles, in which the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel-drive vehicles feature ...
,
power steering
Power steering is a system for reducing a driver's effort to turn a steering wheel of a motor vehicle, by using a power source to assist steering.
Hydraulic or electric actuators add controlled energy to the steering mechanism, so the driver can ...
and a
petrol engine
A petrol engine (gasoline engine in American and Canadian English) is an internal combustion engine designed to run on petrol (gasoline). Petrol engines can often be adapted to also run on fuels such as liquefied petroleum gas and ethanol blends ...
that supplemented the battery pack.
The Kriéger Company manufactured electric vehicles until 1909. Louis Antoine Kriéger continued design work for some time, including the use of the Electrolette name.
Gallery
Krieger Electric Brougham (4907476127).jpg
Krieger Electric Brougham (4907485839).jpg
Krieger Electric Brougham (4908073448).jpg
Krieger Electric Brougham (4907478393).jpg
File:Krieger 1908 seitlich.JPG
PSM V57 D498 Krieger coupe.png
Krieger Electric Brougham (1259418499).jpg
Krieger Electric Brougham (4908075702).jpg
See also
*
List of French cars
*
Timeline of motor vehicle brands
References
External links
*{{Commons category-inline, Krieger vehicles
Electric vehicles introduced in the 19th century
Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of France
1900s cars
Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1898
Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1909
1898 establishments in France
1909 disestablishments in France
Veteran vehicles
1890s cars
Electric vehicles in France
Electric vehicle industry