It's about a photo that is supposed to show Lady Norman on an e-scooter - in 1916, mind you. In many places it is claimed that these scooters were already electric back then.

This photo is about / Screenshot by mimikama.org
This photo is about / Screenshot by mimikama.org

The fact check:

The Smithsonian National Museum of American History's official website shows an Autoped Motor Scooter built in 1918. This vehicle from the American manufacturer Autoped Company of Long Island City, New York, was originally intended as a children's scooter and was manufactured from 1915 to 1921.

The Krupp scooter is based on the American Autoped and was developed in Germany by the Fried. Krupp Motoren- und Kraftwagenfabriken built under license from 1919.

Both the Autoped and the Krupp scooter moved using an internal combustion engine. These scooters require a fuel such as petrol or diesel, which also means that this vehicle not powered by electricity!

In fact, the Autoped model from 1918 ( Eveready Autoped Scooter ) had a box in which a battery was installed. However, this was only used to operate the lights .

However, the Autoped or the Krupp scooter was far ahead of its time - the motorized scooter, which was ridden standing up, was not a bestseller. However, it later developed into the motor scooter that you ride while sitting, as we know it today.

It wasn't until 100 years later that scooters that could be ridden standing up, complete with an electric motor, became popular! The actual e-scooter has also been legal on German roads since June 2019

Result:

Yes, the Autoped or Krupp scooter was available from 1916. But it was powered by an internal combustion engine and not electrically. In addition, the model was not particularly popular and quickly disappeared again. That means: The picture is real, but is placed in a false context. No electrically powered scooter is shown

Further sources : moto mobil , trending topics , vintage motorbikes and bikes , smithsonianmag
Article image:  mecum.com


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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )