Bersey (United Kingdom)

Bersey was a British automobile manufacturer founded by Walter Bersey in London during the late 19th century. The company operated from 1895 to 1899, focusing primarily on electric vehicles. Bersey, an electrical engineer, had previously constructed an electric bus in 1888, but it was not until 1895 that he began producing passenger cars. These early vehicles resembled motorized horse carriages and were notable for their innovative design, which included twin motors, a two-speed gearbox with a clutch, and chain final drive.

In November 1896, three of Bersey's electric carriages participated in the London-Brighton Emancipation Run, an event that celebrated the repeal of the Locomotive Act. However, it was later revealed by Bersey himself in a 1935 speech that these vehicles completed part of the journey by train, a fact that had been widely rumored at the time.

Bersey's more prominent contribution to the automotive landscape was through his electric taxis, with 75 units operating in London from late 1897 until June 1900. These taxis featured bodies crafted by either Arthur Mulliner or the Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company. While no private Bersey carriages are known to have survived, one of the electric taxis is preserved in the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu. Eventually, Bersey shifted his focus to petrol vehicles, selling models from Delahaye and Darracq, and he also compiled "The Motor Car Red Book" for several years.