There were more than 150,000 working horses in NYC by 1890. They had become both indispensable and unsustainable. To advocates of a newly emerging technology, the solution seemed obvious: get rid of horses and replace them with self-propelling motor vehicles, known at the time as horseless carriages. Electric cars were first introduced in the United States in 1890 and by 1897 the Columbia Electric Vehicle Co. in Hartford was producing almost half of the electric cars in the United States. By 1898, hybrid electric cars were offered. By 1899, most of the taxis in major cities were electric. Buses, trucks and even street sweepers were electric. They out sold gasoline cars at the turn of the century – then something happened. Join us and learn about why so many different electric cars swept the nation and what changed.

Presenter: John Cilio is a historical storyteller, author and researcher who has brought historical stories back to life for over 15 years. He is a member of the Organization of American Historians and the Association for the Study of Connecticut History. He has numerous articles printed in national magazines and newspapers and has published eight historical books ranging from women working in WWII and their impact on today’s business world to vintage helicopters. John hails from a career in corporate marketing and has spoken to large and small audiences in over 60 countries around the world. He lives in Sherman, Connecticut.

Program sponsored by the Friends of the Avon Library.

Registration is required for this in-person event.