The First Electric Vehicle Car and Driver Ever Reviewed, from 1960

From the January 1960 issue of Sports Cars Illustrated.

We recently drove a car that, when it reaches production, could take the second-car market by storm. The most un­usual automobile of conventional configuration to be en­gineered in this country in many years, it will be manufac­tured by the Nic-L-Silver Battery Company of Santa Ana, California. There will be no gasoline or air pollution prob­lems with the “Pioneer,” as it is called, for this is the most promising to date of the several electric cars being engi­neered in various cities. Tests thus far indicate operating costs will be under ⅓ cent per mile.

The two-seater body is of laminated fiberglass by Alken with a removable hard top that attaches by four thumb screws. Behind the individual bucket seats, which move far enough back to allow a six-footer reasonable comfort, are 12 4-volt series-wired batteries of special design made by Nic-L-­Silver. Concealed beneath rugged flooring which serves as luggage space, these lead-acid batteries have two cells each with 31 plates per cell and a capacity of eight hours at 235 ampere-hours.

A box section steel frame of simple but rugged construc­tion carries the full torsion-bar suspension, which closely resembles the Volkswagen layout. Two electric motors, each delivering eight shaft horsepower, are used; there is one to each rear wheel, the latter being driven by a rugged sprocket and chain system that is geared down to conserve power. Top speed is 50 miles an hour, but acceleration to this max­imum is amazingly brisk, quicker than that of the average small imported car.

The Pioneer Electric’s batteries.

Car and Driver

Driving is simple and most enjoyable. The seats are as comfortable as those in most small sports cars. In fact one sits very low with the legs outstretched. There are two pedals, one being the usual brake pedal which operates a conven­tional hydraulic system with expanding shoe brakes with one slave cylinder in each wheel. The other pedal is a wide one for acceleration with an operation best described as two-stage. For normal driving at city traffic speeds, 25 to 35 miles an hour, the accelerator is depressed less than halfway, and the drain on the batteries is 24 volts at the most. For full acceleration and speeds approaching the maximum, the pedal is depressed past the halfway mark, whereupon the voltage used approaches or attains the maximum of 48 volts.

The steering system is also conventional recirculating-ball type, with very easy movement of the wheel even at rest requiring three turns from lock to lock. As the wheelbase is just 95 inches, the Pioneer will turn on a dime; parking will be a breeze with space to spare due to the overall length of 157 inches. The overall width is about 60 inches which should qualify this little runabout for reduced parking rates in many public parking lots.

George Lippincott, the founder and president of Nic-L-­Silver, hopes to have 10 cars a day rolling off the assembly line now being tooled. Power companies, postal authorities, and dealers throughout the West Coast states are interested in obtaining the first models. As quickly as possible, ac­cording to Lippincott, the Pioneer will be produced at a rate of one hundred a day, national distribution being the eventual intention. The Pioneer has been tested in San Francisco where it devoured the city’s famed steep hills in front of utility officials and interested dealers.

The weight of the Pioneer, with the hardtop in place, is 1800 pounds of which over 600 are accounted for by the batteries. The fiberglass body weighs less than 300 pounds.

“Somewhat Ghostly” Quiet

During our demonstration drive around the outskirts of Santa Ana, we experienced the curious glances of motorists in assorted large vehicles. While waiting for traffic lights to change, the complete lack of motor noise is, at first, some­what ghostly. The two electric motors do not run when the foot is taken off the accelerator. The latter is, in effect, a switch; only when the pedal is pushed do the motors op­erate. Forward and reverse are controlled by a panel of solenoids and switches actuated by a small toggle switch on the dashboard. The latter contains a conventional speed­ometer and one other instrument showing the voltage being drawn.

Car and Driver

150 Miles of Range Promised

The range of operation varies from 100 to 150 miles ac­cording to Lippincott, depending on whether one pushes the performance toward the maximum or is content to stay with the majority of traffic. Not intended to be a touring car with continental range, the Pioneer is aimed at families requiring the utility of a second car but also demanding economy. A battery charger will be standard equipment in each Pioneer. Recharging will take a maximum of eight hours and, despite rumors to the contrary, is from a regular 110 volt current outlet. Utility companies have indicated an interest in providing such outlets in selected public parking lots. In most areas a full charge is not likely to cost more than the fourth part of a dollar and where electricity is relatively low in cost, less than 20 cents. If in the process of going to and from work on parkways the driver stepped on it and obtained only 80 or 90 miles total range, he would still have extremely low cost transportation.

The ride is good, telescopic shock absorbers being used. The parking brake will appeal to those who like sports cars: a lever between the seats. The inside panels of the doors are of interesting design with the armrest built in.

In addition to the space above the batteries and behind the seats, other luggage can be stored beneath the front hood. The space behind the electric motors will be occupied by the battery charger. Maintenance will take little time. Checking the level of the batteries and taking a specific gravity reading occasionally (1.265 is normal) and greasing the chassis is all that is necessary. The latter has a total of three greasing points.

Next to the low cost of operation in importance is the price of the car which, in convertible form, will be $1995 F.O.B. Santa Ana according to Mr. Lippincott. The bat­teries will have a useful life of three years and, at that time, will cost less than $300 to replace. Other than the batteries, there is little to worry about outside of occasional motor brushes. The Pioneer will not be the only electric car but it will probably be the first.

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