Flocken Elektrowagen
{{Infobox automobile
| name = Flocken Elektrowagen
| image = 1888_Flocken_Elektrowagen.jpg
| manufacturer = Maschinenfabrik A. Flocken
| production = 1888
| engine =
| successor =
}}
The Flocken Elektrowagen is a four-wheeled electric car designed by Andreas Flocken (1845–1913), manufactured in 1888 by Maschinenfabrik A. Flocken in Coburg. It is regarded as the first real electric car.{{Cite book |title=30-Second Great Inventions |last=Boyle |first=David |publisher=Ivy Press |year=2018 |isbn=9781782406846 |page=62 }}{{Cite book |title=Electric and Hybrid Vehicles |last=Denton |first=Tom |publisher=Routledge |year=2016 |isbn=9781317552512 |page=6 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.np-coburg.de/lokal/coburg/coburg/Elektroauto-in-Coburg-erfunden;art83423,1491254 |title=Elektroauto in Coburg erfunden |trans-title=Electric car invented in Coburg |work=Neue Presse Coburg |location=Germany |language=de |date=2011-01-12 |access-date=2019-09-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309155726/https://www.np-coburg.de/lokal/coburg/coburg/Elektroauto-in-Coburg-erfunden;art83423,1491254 |archive-date=9 March 2016 |url-status=live }}
History
In 1888, Flocken added a department for electrical engineering to his company Maschinenfabrik A. Flocken in Coburg and from then on experimented with electric vehicles. In the same year, the first Flocken electric car was built. This vehicle was originally a chaise, similar to the Daimler Motorized Carriage in 1886 by Gottlieb Daimler,[https://mercedes-benz-publicarchive.com/marsClassic/de/instance/ko/Daimler-Motorkutsche-1886.xhtml?oid=5903 Daimler Motorkutsche, 1886.] In: M@RS, ein Angebot von Mercedes-Benz Classic, retrieved 12 February 2018. but it was equipped with an electric motor. Little is known about Flocken's development work. In 1888, he provided a high-wheeled, iron-tyred carriage wagon (high center of gravity, narrow track width, turntable steering, etc.) with an electric motor, the power of about {{convert|0.9|kW|hp|0|abbr=on}} of which was transferred to the rear axle by means of leather belts.Stefan Pischinger, Ulrich Seiffert (Hrsg.): Vieweg Handbuch Kraftfahrzeugtechnik. 8. Auflage. Springer, Wiesbaden 2016, {{ISBN|978-3-658-09527-7}}, S. 174. The wooden vehicle is said to have reached a top speed of {{convert|15|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}} and weighed {{convert|400|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|title=Erstes Elektroauto der Welt kam aus Coburg|url=https://www.infranken.de/regional/coburg/erstes-elektroauto-der-welt-kam-aus-coburg;art214,423047|author=Simone Bastian|work=www.infranken.de|date=2013-04-20|accessdate=2018-08-08|language=de}}
In the following years, further models were developed. For example, there is a photo of a two-seater from around 1903 in the Deutsches Museum. This model had a stub axle steering, spoked wheels with pneumatic tires of the same size with ball bearings and fully elliptical springs and a battery box over the front axle. The tie rod was moved down and had a control handle. In addition, the vehicle had electric headlights, which is considered a possible novelty.Friedrich Rauer: [http://www.np-coburg.de/lokal/coburg/coburg/Elektroauto-in-Coburg-erfunden;art83423,1491254 Elektroauto in Coburg erfunden.] In: Neue Presse, Coburg, 12 January 2008, retrieved 30 March 2018.
Vehicle construction at Flocken was discontinued in 1903.Christian Boseckert: [http://www.stadtgeschichte-coburg.de/Startseite/archiv/a-automobilgeschichte.aspx Als Coburg Automobilgeschichte schrieb.]{{Dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In: Digitales Stadtgedächtnis, Stadt Coburg, letzte Aktualisierung 3 June 2014, retrieved 2 April 2018: {{Blockquote|Die einschlägige Literatur dazu erwähnt, dass im Jahre 1903 der Wagenbau ein Ende gefunden habe.}}