Electromobile / BEC (United Kingdom)

The British Electromobile Co. Ltd, based in London, operated from 1902 to 1920 and was notable for its electric vehicles during a time when electric cars were less prevalent in the United Kingdom compared to the United States. The company evolved from the British & Foreign Electric Vehicle Co. Ltd, which was established in 1900 to sell French-built electric vehicles. In November 1900, the company rebranded as the British Electromobile Co. Ltd and began selling vehicles under this new name.

In 1902, the company ordered 50 chassis from Greenwood & Badey of Leeds, which were delivered in stages over the following six months. These early models featured rear axle motors and solid tyres, with bodies constructed by various firms in London and the Gloucester Railway Carriage & Waggon Co. Ltd. By 1903, the Electromobile incorporated motors designed under French Contal patents, along with double-reduction drive and pneumatic tyres. The majority of the bodies produced were town broughams, although some open victorias were also manufactured.

The company made a significant impact in the taxi market, introducing a fleet of 20 taxicabs in London in 1908, some of which remained operational into the 1920s. The Electromobile exhibited at the Olympia Show until 1907, but by 1908, their display featured only Opel petrol cars, indicating a shift in focus. The total number of chassis supplied by Greenwood & Badey reached 303, primarily before 1907. In 1904, the company relocated to Hertford Street in Mayfair, where they offered a hire service for their vehicles, including maintenance and battery charging for an annual fee.

In March 1914, the British Electromobile Co. Ltd entered voluntary liquidation, transferring its business to the Hertford Street Hiring Co. Ltd. After World War I, the company made a brief attempt to resume production, showcasing the Elmo, an electric car with a limousine/landaulette body, at the 1919 Olympia Show. However, only one unit of this model was likely produced, and it did not achieve further commercial success.