Innovative Cars: Porsche’s First Ever Car Was Electric

The car manufacturer Porsche, known for its stylish and luxurious cars, have come along way since its first ever model -- the ‘Egger-Lohner electric vehicle C.2 Phaeton model’, or simply put, the P1.

The P1, made in 1898, was fully electric that was a car ahead of its time considering the recent surge in electric vehicles on our roads today.

It was developed by Ferdinand Porsche (who later began Porsche in 1931) for carmaker Jacob Lohner.

As a boy, Ferdinand was very interested in electricity and even installed a lighting system in his parent’s house. This led to Ludwig Lohner asking Ferdinand to create an electric drivetrain that could replace the outdated horse and carriage.

What Ferdinand Porsche ended up inventing was nothing short of remarkable. Everything from its compact electric drive to its weight of just 130kg. The P1 could reach speeds of up to 21mph and had an impressive range of 49 miles on a single charge.

Porsche managed to create a rear-wheel-drive car by designing an “octagonal electric motor” that was powered by electric batteries at the back of the vehicle.

The P1 had a 12-speed controller accompanied by a complex series of gears. Six forward gears, two reverse gears and four gears to brake the car.

22-year-old Porsche would go on to enter this innovative car into the Berlin road race that took place a year later in 1899. The race involved travelling 24 miles with a driver and three passengers. The P1 thrashed its competitors by crossing the finish line 18 minutes before anyone else.

What’s even more impressive is that Porsche’s P1 consumed the least amount of energy than all the other vehicles in the race.

There is no doubt that Ferdinand Porsche’s innovative invention set a technological benchmark that followed many more exciting developments in the automotive industry at the beginning of the 20^th century.

Images courtesy of Porsche.com