Quick facts for kids
Riker Electric Vehicle Company
| Industry |
Automotive |
| Fate |
Absorbed by Electric Vehicle Company |
| Founded |
1898; 128 years ago (1898) in Elizabeth, New Jersey |
| Defunct |
1901 (1901) |
The Riker was an early type of electric car built between 1898 and 1901. These cars were part of what historians call the veteran era and brass era of automobiles. The company that made them was started in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
The Riker Electric Car Company
The Riker electric cars were designed by Andrew L. Riker. Not many of these cars were made. The company was later taken over by another company called the Electric Vehicle Company in 1901.
Riker's Racing Success
An interesting fact about the Riker company is that they won an early car race! An article from September 26, 1896, in Scientific American magazine, talks about The Riker Electric Motor Company. They won a "horseless carriage" race in Narragansett Park in Providence, Rhode Island.
The prize for winning this race was $900.00, which was a lot of money back then! The article also mentioned that the Riker electric car made the fastest mile in the race, finishing in just 2 minutes and 13 seconds. This race might have been the very first car race ever held on a track in the United States, and The Riker Electric Vehicle Company won it.
Images for kids
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A Riker Victoria electric car from 1900.
