1914 Rauch & Lang B4 BroughamThis very rare 1914 Rauch & Lang B4 Electric Brougham was photographed with an equally rare 1914 General Electric Mercury Arc, 100-amp battery charger/rectifier. Both were photographed at the The Nethercutt Collection in Sylmar, Calif.

Although I was not able to get close for a photo of this Brougham’s interior, it is luxurious.

“Electric automobiles were sold with home battery chargers, so owners could maintain their own vehicles,” according to the museum. “Rauch & Lang electric automobiles were quiet, easy to operate and efficient.

"However, internal combustion engine technology advanced at a faster pace than battery-powered electrics and doomed the electric car.”

Gas-powered cars were an epochal change for the automotive industry which, at the turn of the century, manufactured the majority of cars that were either electrical- or steam-powered.

In fact, Rauch & Lang’s first electric car was manufactured a decade earlier than this model.

“The Rauch & Lang Carriage Co. was an American electric automobile manufactured in Cleveland, Ohio, from 1905 to 1920 and Chicopee Falls, Mass., from 1920-1932,” according to Wikipedia. Posted by Glenn Franco Simmons

I love my 2011 Prius, but it may not have been possible without Rauch & Lang’s foray into electric automobiles.

“The 1914 Rauch & Lang B4 Electric Brougham was a remarkable automobile that played a significant role in the early days of electric vehicles,” according to Ask AI, which I subscribe to. “As one of the earliest electric cars produced by Rauch & Lang, a renowned American electric vehicle manufacturer, the B4 Electric Brougham stood out for its innovative design, advanced technology, and luxurious features.

“The Rauch & Lang Co. was founded in 1905 in Cleveland, Ohio, by brothers Charles and Richard Rauch, along with Henry Lang. The company specialized in the production of electric vehicles, capitalizing on the growing interest in EVs during the early 20th century. Rauch & Lang quickly gained recognition for their commitment to quality, reliability, and cutting-edge technology.”

1914 Rauch & Lang B4 BroughamThis very rare 1914 Rauch & Lang B4 Electric Brougham was photographed with an equally rare 1914 General Electric Mercury Arc, 100-amp battery charger/rectifier. Both were photographed at the The Nethercutt Collection in Sylmar, Calif.

Although I was not able to get close for a photo of this Brougham’s interior, it is luxurious.

“Electric automobiles were sold with home battery chargers, so owners could maintain their own vehicles,” according to the museum. “Rauch & Lang electric automobiles were quiet, easy to operate and efficient.

"However, internal combustion engine technology advanced at a faster pace than battery-powered electrics and doomed the electric car.”

Gas-powered cars were an epochal change for the automotive industry which, at the turn of the century, manufactured the majority of cars that were either electrical- or steam-powered.

In fact, Rauch & Lang’s first electric car was manufactured a decade earlier than this model.

“The Rauch & Lang Carriage Co. was an American electric automobile manufactured in Cleveland, Ohio, from 1905 to 1920 and Chicopee Falls, Mass., from 1920-1932,” according to Wikipedia. “The Rauch & Lang Carriage Co. was an American electric automobile manufactured in Cleveland, Ohio, from 1905 to 1920 and Chicopee Falls, Mass., from 1920-1932,” according to Wikipedia.

Rauch & Lang’s first electric car was manufactured a decade earlier than this model. The 1914 EV model boasted a distinctive and elegant design.

“The Brougham body style, characterized by a fully enclosed passenger compartment and an open chauffeur's seat, was popular during the horse-drawn carriage era and seamlessly transitioned into the automotive industry,” according to Ask AI. “The vehicle's sleek exterior featured flowing lines, rounded edges, and a high roofline, exuding a sense of luxury and sophistication.”

Generally, a “Brougham car” is a term that refers to a body style of a vehicle that has an outside seat for the driver and an enclosed cabin for the passengers, similar to a limousine.

1914 Rauch & Lang B4 BroughamThis very rare 1914 Rauch & Lang B4 Electric Brougham was photographed with an equally rare 1914 General Electric Mercury Arc, 100-amp battery charger/rectifier. Both were photographed at the The Nethercutt Collection in Sylmar, Calif.

Although I was not able to get close for a photo of this Brougham’s interior, it is luxurious.

“Electric automobiles were sold with home battery chargers, so owners could maintain their own vehicles,” according to the museum. “Rauch & Lang electric automobiles were quiet, easy to operate and efficient.

"However, internal combustion engine technology advanced at a faster pace than battery-powered electrics and doomed the electric car.”

Gas-powered cars were an epochal change for the automotive industry which, at the turn of the century, manufactured the majority of cars that were either electrical- or steam-powered.

In fact, Rauch & Lang’s first electric car was manufactured a decade earlier than this model.

“The Rauch & Lang Carriage Co. was an American electric automobile manufactured in Cleveland, Ohio, from 1905 to 1920 and Chicopee Falls, Mass., from 1920-1932,” according to Wikipedia. “The term comes from a horse-drawn carriage that was invented by Henry Peter Brougham, a British statesman and jurist,” according to Conversation with Bing (AI Chat). “The Brougham carriage was popular in 19th century Europe for its comfort, privacy, and versatility.

“The Brougham body style was adopted by many luxury car manufacturers in the early days of the automobile, such as Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and Packard. However, the layout was not very convenient for the chauffeurs, who had to endure the weather and noise outside. By the 1930s, the traditional open-air Brougham design was fading away.

“In the later decades,” Bing continued, “the term Brougham was used to denote the most opulent and luxurious version of a car model, usually with features like vinyl roofs, opera windows and plush interiors. Some examples of cars that used the Brougham name are Cadillac Brougham, Oldsmobile Cutlass 1914 Rauch & Lang B4 BroughamThis very rare 1914 Rauch & Lang B4 Electric Brougham was photographed with an equally rare 1914 General Electric Mercury Arc, 100-amp battery charger/rectifier. Both were photographed at the The Nethercutt Collection in Sylmar, Calif.

Although I was not able to get close for a photo of this Brougham’s interior, it is luxurious.

“Electric automobiles were sold with home battery chargers, so owners could maintain their own vehicles,” according to the museum. “Rauch & Lang electric automobiles were quiet, easy to operate and efficient.

"However, internal combustion engine technology advanced at a faster pace than battery-powered electrics and doomed the electric car.”

Gas-powered cars were an epochal change for the automotive industry which, at the turn of the century, manufactured the majority of cars that were either electrical- or steam-powered.

In fact, Rauch & Lang’s first electric car was manufactured a decade earlier than this model.

“The Rauch & Lang Carriage Co. was an American electric automobile manufactured in Cleveland, Ohio, from 1905 to 1920 and Chicopee Falls, Mass., from 1920-1932,” according to Wikipedia. Supreme Brougham, and Ford LTD Brougham. The Brougham name was often associated with elegance and prestige.”

This very rare electric Brougham was photographed with an equally rare 1914 General Electric Mercury Arc, 100-amp battery charger/rectifier. Both were photographed at the The Nethercutt Collection in Sylmar, Calif. Although I was not able to get close to take a photo of this Brougham’s interior, I have seen photos and it is luxurious.

“The B4 Electric Brougham was powered by an electric motor and a set of lead-acid batteries, which were housed beneath the floorboards,” according to Ask AI. “It had a range of approximately 60-70 miles on a single charge, making it suitable for urban transportation and short-distance travel. The electric motor provided a smooth and silent ride, a characteristic inherent in most electric vehicles of that era.

1914 Rauch & Lang B4 BroughamThis very rare 1914 Rauch & Lang B4 Electric Brougham was photographed with an equally rare 1914 General Electric Mercury Arc, 100-amp battery charger/rectifier. Both were photographed at the The Nethercutt Collection in Sylmar, Calif.

Although I was not able to get close for a photo of this Brougham’s interior, it is luxurious.

“Electric automobiles were sold with home battery chargers, so owners could maintain their own vehicles,” according to the museum. “Rauch & Lang electric automobiles were quiet, easy to operate and efficient.

"However, internal combustion engine technology advanced at a faster pace than battery-powered electrics and doomed the electric car.”

Gas-powered cars were an epochal change for the automotive industry which, at the turn of the century, manufactured the majority of cars that were either electrical- or steam-powered.

In fact, Rauch & Lang’s first electric car was manufactured a decade earlier than this model.

“The Rauch & Lang Carriage Co. was an American electric automobile manufactured in Cleveland, Ohio, from 1905 to 1920 and Chicopee Falls, Mass., from 1920-1932,” according to Wikipedia. “The interior of the B4 Electric Brougham was crafted with utmost attention to detail and comfort. The cabin accommodated four passengers, with two facing bench seats. The use of high-quality materials, such as plush upholstery and fine wood trim, elevated the overall luxury of the vehicle. The absence of a noisy internal combustion engine contributed to a serene environment for passengers, allowing for peaceful conversations and an enjoyable travel experience.”

As always, making the travel experience more enjoyable is much of what modern automotive history is all about.

“Rauch & Lang incorporated several technological advancements into the B4 Electric Brougham,” Ask AI continued. “The vehicle featured electric lights ~ a rare feature at the time, and a state-of-the-art electric starting system, which eliminated the need for manual cranking. Additionally, the B4 offered regenerative braking, a feature that allowed the vehicle to recover energy during deceleration, thereby extending its range.”

The advancements in this model were significant.

1914 Rauch & Lang B4 BroughamThis very rare 1914 Rauch & Lang B4 Electric Brougham was photographed with an equally rare 1914 General Electric Mercury Arc, 100-amp battery charger/rectifier. Both were photographed at the The Nethercutt Collection in Sylmar, Calif.

Although I was not able to get close for a photo of this Brougham’s interior, it is luxurious.

“Electric automobiles were sold with home battery chargers, so owners could maintain their own vehicles,” according to the museum. “Rauch & Lang electric automobiles were quiet, easy to operate and efficient.

"However, internal combustion engine technology advanced at a faster pace than battery-powered electrics and doomed the electric car.”

Gas-powered cars were an epochal change for the automotive industry which, at the turn of the century, manufactured the majority of cars that were either electrical- or steam-powered.

In fact, Rauch & Lang’s first electric car was manufactured a decade earlier than this model.

“The Rauch & Lang Carriage Co. was an American electric automobile manufactured in Cleveland, Ohio, from 1905 to 1920 and Chicopee Falls, Mass., from 1920-1932,” according to Wikipedia. “The 1914 Rauch & Lang B4 Electric Brougham played a crucial role in promoting the adoption of electric vehicles during the early 20th Century,” Ask AI noted. “Its luxurious design, advanced technology and impressive performance helped dispel the notion that electric cars were inferior to their gasoline-powered counterparts. The B4 Electric Brougham’s success paved the way for further advancements in electric vehicle technology and contributed to the foundation of the modern electric vehicle industry.

“{In conclusion}, the 1914 Rauch & Lang B4 Electric Brougham was an exceptional electric vehicle that left an indelible mark on the history of automotive engineering,” Ask AI stated. “Its elegant design, innovative features and emphasis on passenger comfort set new standards for electric vehicles of the time.”