For today’s auto enthusiasts, the name P1 evokes the latest McLaren hypercar, but in 1898, P1 was the unofficial name of Ferdinand Porsche’s first design, the Egger-Lohner electric vehicle, C.2 Phaeton model. The car came to be known as the P1 after Porsche engraved this code (standing for Porsche, number 1) onto all of the EV’s key components.
Designed and built in 1898 by a then 23-year-old Ferdinand Porsche, the original P1 was recently recovered by Porsche and added to its museum’s collection. Such is the importance of the P1 that Porsche had to redesign its permanent exhibition at the Stuttgart museum to offer it a worthy place: the P1 forms a centerpiece used to introduce visitors to the first part of the exhibition called the “prologue”.
The car featured a highly compact electric drive weighing 130 kg (287 lbs) and producing 3 horsepower. For short periods, up to 5 hp could be achieved in overloading mode, allowing the P1 to reach up to 35 km/h (22 mph). The P1 had an overall range of up to 80 km (50 miles), which is impressive even for today’s standards. It also featured a Lohner alternating vehicle body, allowing it to be used in both summer and winter.
The P1 even won a race for electric vehicles with Ferdinand Porsche behind the wheel and three passengers on board, at the 1899 international motor vehicle exhibition in Berlin.
This remarkable piece of automotive history will be unveiled on January 31, 2014 at the Porsche Museum in the presence of selected guests, with visitors having the chance to view the P1 for free on February 1 and 2 as part of the celebrations marking the fifth anniversary of the museum.
By Dan Mihalascu
PHOTO GALLERY
