Enfield E8000- 1975

The Enfield 8000 was created on the Isle of Wight by the Enfield company, owned by Greek shipping tycoon Giannis Goulandris. The Enfield had its roots in marine engine manufacturing before hiring an ex-Apollo space program engineer to design a new electric car for the company.

The 8000 could obtain a maximum speed of 37mph, but it could only travel relatively short distances. It was powered by two banks of 12-volt lead-acid batteries that weighed 680 lbs., stored both in front of the passengers’ feet and in the rear compartment. The 8000 was a 2-pedal vehicle with a “throttle” pedal which controlled the speed of the electric drive motor and a brake pedal.

The Enfield 8000 was not the first electric car to exist, but it was a completely new design created to cater to urban life in the wake of the energy crisis of the 1970s. However, this little car never gained much public interest due to nearly half of the cars produced being bought by the British Council of Electricity in a failed attempt to promote fuel-efficient vehicles. Eventually, production of the car was moved to Greece due to labor strikes, but ceased production in 1976 due to low public interest after only selling around 40 units to the general public.

Specifications:

Manufacturer: Enfield Automotive Ltd.

Origin: Cowes, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom

Drivetrain Configuration: Rear-wheel drive

Engine: 48-volt DC motor

Transmission: Single speed plus reverse

Top Speed: 37mph

Years of Production: 1973-1976

Number Produced: 100-120

Original Cost: £2,800 (~$6,200)