CGE (France) - AllCarIndex

Compagnie Générale d'Électricité (C.G.E) was a French manufacturer of electric cars that operated from 1941 to 1946. The company was based in Paris and was notable for producing one of the most visually appealing electric vehicles during the wartime period in France. The design and construction of the C.G.E. were led by Jean Grégoire, who had previously worked on the AM11 car compound. The vehicle featured a cast aluminum frame, which was a significant element borrowed from Grégoire's earlier designs.

The C.G.E. electric car had a standard range of approximately 55 miles. However, in a notable achievement in September 1942, Grégoire managed to cover a distance of 158 miles on a single charge, traveling from Paris to Tours. Production of the C.G.E. was allowed by the German occupying forces, with the stipulation that most of the cars produced were to be exported to Germany. Despite a production rate of two cars per week for nearly two years, it is believed that none of the vehicles were actually exported from France.

The C.G.E. electric car had a unique anecdote associated with it, as one vehicle was reportedly offered to the director of a biscuit factory in exchange for his weight in biscuits, a transaction that was well-received by both parties. Unfortunately, like many other French electric vehicles of the time, the C.G.E. did not survive the post-war period. A coupe version was displayed at the 1946 Paris Show, but no further production ensued following the event.