Belmont

Belmont was an early electric-vehicle marque announced in 1916 by the Belmont Electric Auto Company in Wyandotte, Michigan. The planned range included passenger automobiles, electric limousines, and commercial delivery vehicles. Announced models included a four-passenger car, a six-passenger limousine, and a delivery car, with the latter intended to be the least expensive offering. The company promoted an estimated driving range of up to 75 miles per charge and proposed an onboard charging arrangement that could be installed directly in the vehicle, allowing owners to charge without taking the car to a garage. The charger was described as an optional feature with an additional cost. The company expected first-year production to remain below 250 vehicles while it assessed demand and adjusted output. Manufacturing was reportedly planned at the Murphy Machine Shop on Biddle Avenue in Wyandotte, while the company's temporary offices were in Detroit's Scherer Building. J. H. Bishop, described in contemporary material as a Wyandotte capitalist, was identified as president of the proposed company. Despite the detailed announcement of models, prices, range, and manufacturing plans, surviving evidence does not establish that Belmont cars entered meaningful series production. Belmont is therefore best understood as a short-lived or possibly unrealized American electric-car venture rather than an established mass-market automobile manufacturer. Its historical importance lies in the way its proposed product range addressed both private transportation and commercial delivery at a time when electric vehicles remained a recognized alternative to gasoline automobiles.

The Belmont automobile venture emerged in early 1916, when the formation of the Belmont Electric Auto Company was announced in Michigan. The proposed company was based in Wyandotte, an industrial community south of Detroit, and maintained temporary offices at the Scherer Building in Detroit. J. H. Bishop, characterized in contemporary reporting as a Wyandotte capitalist, was named president. The company intended to develop several types of electric vehicles rather than a single passenger-car model, reflecting the broader use of electric propulsion in urban and commercial transport during the period. The announced range included a delivery car, a four-passenger automobile, and a six-passenger electric limousine. Reported planned prices were $985 for the delivery vehicle, $1,400 for the four-passenger car, and $1,600 for the six-passenger limousine. The vehicles were expected to travel as far as 75 miles on a charge. Belmont also highlighted a charging system that could be fitted directly to the vehicle. This arrangement was intended to let the driver charge the car without taking it to a garage, an appealing convenience at a time when charging infrastructure was less standardized and electric vehicles were primarily associated with urban and short-distance use. The charger was described as an optional feature priced separately from the vehicle. Manufacturing was expected to take place at the Murphy Machine Shop on Biddle Avenue in Wyandotte. The company planned to keep first-year output below 250 vehicles, with production levels subject to adjustment as demand became clearer. This cautious volume target suggests that Belmont was being organized as a small entrant testing a developing market rather than as a large industrial manufacturer with an established distribution network. The available historical record becomes sparse after the 1916 announcement. Reference works identify Belmont as an electric car manufactured or proposed by the Belmont Electric Auto Company, but surviving evidence does not clearly document sustained production, deliveries, later models, or the company's eventual corporate disposition. The available account specifically notes that there is little evidence that any cars were actually made. Consequently, Belmont's status as a commercial automobile marque remains uncertain. It may have produced a very small number of vehicles, or it may have remained principally a planned enterprise whose public announcement preceded full manufacturing operations. Belmont nevertheless illustrates the diversity of the early American electric-vehicle field. Its planned portfolio combined passenger cars, a limousine, and a delivery vehicle, while its charging concept attempted to address ownership convenience. The venture's limited documentary footprint and lack of confirmed production figures prevent a fuller reconstruction of its business, engineering, or market performance.

• 1916

  Belmont Electric Auto Company announced

  [1]Belmont (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  The proposed Belmont Electric Auto Company was announced in early 1916, with J. H. Bishop identified as president and temporary offices established in Detroit.

• 1916

  Electric vehicle range and pricing disclosed

  [1]Belmont (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  Belmont publicized plans for a delivery car, a four-passenger car, and a six-passenger limousine, with announced prices ranging from $985 to $1,600 and a claimed range of up to 75 miles per charge.

• 1916

  Planned Wyandotte production

  [1]Belmont (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  Production was expected at the Murphy Machine Shop on Biddle Avenue in Wyandotte, with first-year output planned at fewer than 250 vehicles.

An early American electric-vehicle marque positioned around practical urban transportation, passenger comfort, commercial delivery use, and convenient vehicle charging.

• Commercial electric vehicle · 1916

  Belmont electric delivery car

  The delivery car was planned as Belmont's most affordable vehicle, with an announced price of $985. It was intended for commercial and urban delivery work, fitting the company's broader plan to serve practical transportation needs as well as private passengers. The surviving account does not confirm whether the model reached production.

• Electric passenger car · 1916

  Belmont four-passenger electric car

  The four-passenger car was one of Belmont's principal proposed passenger models. It was announced at a planned price of $1,400 and was expected to share the marque's claimed range of up to 75 miles per charge. Belmont also promoted an optional vehicle-mounted charging arrangement. No reliable production or delivery record is available.

• Electric limousine · 1916

  Belmont six-passenger electric limousine

  The six-passenger limousine was the largest and most expensive passenger vehicle announced by Belmont, with a planned price of $1,600. It was presented as a higher-capacity electric automobile for passenger transportation. Available historical material does not establish that series production or customer deliveries occurred.

• Vehicle charging equipment · 1916

  Belmont onboard charging system

  Belmont proposed a charger that could be installed directly on the car, allowing the driver to charge without taking the vehicle to a garage. The feature was reported to cost an additional $150. It was a convenience-oriented element of the marque's early electric-vehicle proposition, although installation and commercial availability are not documented.

• 1916

  Planned a multi-segment electric-vehicle rangeStrategy

  Background

  Belmont entered the early electric-vehicle field with plans covering both private passenger transport and commercial delivery use.

  Action taken

  The company announced a delivery car, a four-passenger car, and a six-passenger limousine rather than relying on a single body style.

  Aftermath

  The available record does not show whether the range entered production or achieved commercial sales.

  Source

• 1916

  Announced direct-to-vehicle charging optionProduct launch

  Background

  Charging convenience was a practical consideration for early electric-car users because public and garage charging arrangements were not uniform.

  Action taken

  Belmont proposed an optional charger that could be installed directly on the vehicle, reportedly for an additional $150.

  Aftermath

  There is insufficient evidence to determine whether the charger was manufactured or offered to customers.

  Source

1. 1Belmont (automobile)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2EV Historyeconogics.com