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The Riker was a
veteran A veteran () is a person who has significant experience (and is usually adept and esteemed) and expertise in a particular occupation or field. A military veteran is a person who is no longer serving in a military. A military veteran that ha ...
and
brass era The Brass Era is an American term for the early period of automotive manufacturing, named for the prominent brass fittings used during this time for such things as lights and radiators. It is generally considered to encompass 1896 through 1915 ...
electric car An electric car, battery electric car, or all-electric car is an automobile that is propelled by one or more electric motors, using only energy stored in batteries. Compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, electric cars are quie ...
founded in 1898 in
Elizabeth, New Jersey Elizabeth is a city and the county seat of Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.New ...
. Designed by Andrew L. Riker, they were built in small numbers until the company was absorbed by the Electric Vehicle Company in 1901.


History

Andrew Riker built his first vehicle in 1887. It was an English Coventry tricycle with electric power. He founded the Riker Electric Motor Company in Brooklyn in 1888. In 1894 he built his first four-wheel car by putting a pair of Remington bicycles together with electric power added. That year he also began building an electric racer which competed against gasoline cars at the 1896
Narragansett Park Narragansett Park was an American race track for Thoroughbred horse racing in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Beginnings On May 18, 1934, Rhode Island voters approved a measure legalizing parimutuel betting by an almost 3 to 1 margin. The following day, ...
race in Rhode Island. ''
Scientific American ''Scientific American'', informally abbreviated ''SciAm'' or sometimes ''SA'', is an American popular science magazine. Many famous scientists, including Albert Einstein and Nikola Tesla, have contributed articles to it. In print since 1845, it ...
'' reported the Riker Electric Motor Company, of
Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, beh ...
, N. Y., as the winner of the horseless carriage race, the prize being $900. The fastest mile was made by the Riker, "the time being 2:13." This was the first automobile race done around a track in the United States. Riker made his first sale in 1897. From that time a variety of electric vehicles bore the Riker name including runabouts, Victorias, surreys, hansom cabs and heavy
trucks A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo, carry specialized payloads, or perform other utilitarian work. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, but the vast majority feature body-on-frame construction ...
. In December 1900 he merged his company with the Electric Vehicle Company and only trucks were built under the Riker name afterwards. In 1901 as Riker Motor Vehicle Company, he designed an 8-hp 2-cylinder gasoline car, and a 16-hp 4-cylinder car which he offered to the Electric Vehicle Company, but they declined it. He partnered with the Overman Company to produce the gasoline cars in Chicopee Falls. Overman merged with
Locomobile Company of America The Locomobile Company of America was a pioneering American automobile manufacturer founded in 1899, and known for its dedication to precision before the assembly-line era. It was one of the earliest car manufacturers in the advent of the automo ...
and in 1903 these became the first gasoline automobiles offered by Locomobile. Andrew Riker became a vice-president for Locomobile and was the first president of the
Society of Automotive Engineers SAE International, formerly named the Society of Automotive Engineers, is a United States-based, globally active professional association and standards developing organization for engineering professionals in various industries. SAE Internatio ...
.


See also

* History of the electric vehicle


External links


A.L. Riker
Photos and articles about the early years of the Riker Electric Vehicles *


References

{{Authority control Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States History of Elizabeth, New Jersey Companies based in Elizabeth, New Jersey Motor vehicle manufacturers based in New Jersey Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1898 Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1901 Defunct manufacturing companies based in New Jersey Electric vehicle manufacturers of the United States Battery electric vehicle manufacturers Electric vehicles introduced in the 19th century Electric vehicles introduced in the 20th century Veteran vehicles 1890s cars 1900s cars Cars introduced in 1897