Contrary to his name, William
J. Still obviously believed in motion. In 1893, realizing that the ideal
commercial vehicle should be easy for any driver to handle and repair,
he patented a lightweight battery for self-propelled vehicles, then
went on to build Canada's first electric car. In 1899, Parker's Dye
Works in Toronto purchased a single vehicle powered by a Still motor
and battery, and a new age began. The Electric elivery Van had a
standard carriage body fitted with an eight horsepower motor and a
battery of 36 cells, carrying a total weight of 209 kilograms. It
had a range of 30 miles and a speed of 3 to 14 miles per
hour - incredible for its time.
