Crowdus (United States) - AllCarIndex

The Crowdus Automobile Company was established in Chicago, Illinois, and operated from 1899 to 1902. The company introduced its first vehicle, an electric runabout, at the end of 1899. This vehicle featured a simple design characterized by a tubular frame and wooden wheels. Steering was managed through a tiller, which also served to control both acceleration and braking.

Although the Crowdus Automobile Company was not officially incorporated until 1901, it faced challenges in the competitive automotive market. Despite the initial promise of its electric runabout, which was claimed to have the capability of covering 100 miles on a single charge, the company ceased operations just a year later, in 1902. The brief existence of the Crowdus Automobile Company highlighted the early experimentation with electric vehicles during the dawn of the automotive industry.