In the mid-1960s, Westinghouse dabbled in the electric car market before others would go down that path. The result was the Markette, a small 2-passenger vehicle that looked like a box on wheels. Its range was narrow, and its speed was low, and the project didn’t go past about 50 units. The seller has one of these rarities stashed away in a garage in Waxhaw, North Carolina, and it’s said to be complete, though we’re not aware of whether it runs. The oddity is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $9,500. Be the only kid on your block to own one!
Other than electric devices being part of their game, we don’t know why Westinghouse Electric Corp. experimented with the Markette from 1965 to 1967. Oil and gasoline were still cheap in those days, and they would be until 1973. Perhaps it was all about reducing pollution, which had become a political issue in the ‘60s. The car was developed as a “transitional urban vehicle” that could do 25 mph, get 50 miles on a charge, and recharge in eight hours (you could plug it into a regular outlet).
The Markette got its power from a pair of D-C electric motors and fed a dozen regular 6-volt batteries. Without passengers, the vehicle weighed just over 1,700 lbs., and we understand they were expected to sell for $2,000 if and when they ever went into mass production. They didn’t. We don’t know what happened to most of the 50 said to have been built, but we understand one is on display at a museum in Pennsylvania.
We also don’t know how the seller came to have one of these little wonders. Some work has been done on it, including a brake rebuild, servicing of the electric motors, and a new set of batteries. Some extras and spare parts will go with the sale. If you bought this vehicle, what would you do with it? Thanks for the tip, Russ Glantz.
A what now? From who? It almost looks like a cross between a Powell and a Scout. The name Westinghouse was bigger than Edison. George Westinghouse promoted the use of AC current, used today, unlike Edisons DC current, so an EV should be a natural. Once again, our good friend, timing. Not many cared about an EV when 396 Camaros were to be had, and of course, range. 50 miles after an 8 hour charge? It was obviously made for a short trip to work, and plugged in there all day for the ride home, no detours, you better hope.
I’m not a total wet blanket, and realize our fossil fueled vehicles are struggling a slow death, but I just don’t think an EV is the answer. I do think as prices continue to climb, folks will look to other means, and I suppose this could work, provided we have enough juice. We just never can past the battery issue, something that’s held back EVs for 120 years. Just bring out that miracle chunk of Kryptonite type power already, locked away in a warehouse in Phoenix,,