> 1910 battery tech was pretty primitive. The whole electric powertrain was primitive. The motor speed controller was essentially a giant multi-tap resistor (

> 1910 battery tech was pretty primitive. The whole electric powertrain was primitive. The motor speed controller was essentially a giant multi-tap resistor (such a motor controller is still used for most automobile HVAC blower speed control, because it is cheap to manufacture - though PWM systems are becoming more common in newer vehicles). Electric motors were brushed series or shunt wound devices (not permanent magnet, not brushless, not multi-phased). Today's electric cars are virtually all 3-phase systems with a controller that converts from DC to 3-phase AC, with appropriate brushless motors. Major power losses all along the way, coupled with poor battery technology. It is honestly amazing that they were able to get any workable range at all in the vehicles that were manufactured.