It’s incredible to think that if it wasn’t for cheap gasoline prices in the early 1900s and limited EV technologies, the electric car could have become commonplace over a century ago and ICEs would have been nothing more than pieces of history in the formative years of the automobile industry.
However, things didn’t pan out that way and at the start of the 20th century, development of ICEs reached fever pitch and among the market leaders was the Mercedes Simplex. First introduced in 1902 and built through to 1909, the Simplex was popular with the rich and powered by a large-capacity inline-four delivering about 40 hp.
Car Throttle recently took a step back in time to test out the Simplex and compare it to the company’s EQ Concept unveiled 12 months ago. The automobile has certainly come a very long way in the past 115 years.
Whereas the Simplex was at the forefront of the gasoline-powered car revolution, the EQ Concept offers a look at the future of Mercedes and its commitment to electric powertrains.
What will the car look like in another 115 years? Who knows but if we take to the air, it may cease to exist.