controllerdashboard and jump seatsSangamo state of charge meter
OwnerMyles Twete
Owner's Other EVsscow barge cruiser (wooden)
1911 Hupp-Yeats
LocationPortland, Oregon US map
Web/EmailWebPage email image
Vehicle1921 Milburn 27L Brougham
Car is an original production 1921 electric coupe. It has a wheelbase of 105", wire rim wheels w/34" tires, metal body on wood framing.
MotorGeneral Electric TBD Series Wound DC
48 volt
Controller Mechanical Drum Contactor Controller
12 sliding contacts provide circuit switching to enable reconfiguration of battery pack and series load resistors. This enables four (4) speeds forward, two (2) speeds reverse, neutral and plug brake modes.
Speed control and steering control are both via horizontal tiller arms.
Batteries8 Hawker GP70, 12.00 Volt, Lead-Acid, Flooded
2 strings of 4 batteries each for 48 volts 70 Ah ea, switchable into 96v or 48v depending on speed.
Stock flooded configuration would have instead used 2 strings of 7 golg cart size (225ah) batteries each, switchable for 84v or 42v depending on speed.
System Voltage96 Volts
Chargerunknown home built Vicor
1 or 2 home configured Vicor Megapac Power Supply chargers with 120v output at 13amps each at 85% efficiency.
HeaterCoal-fired foot warmer.
InstrumentationDC motor-driven Sangamo state of charge meter that counts the Amp and displays the range using clock hands. Red pointer is an adjustable empty reminder. And, runs backwards during charge. Even has a battery charge efficiency tap for lead acid or nickel iron.
Top Speed30 MPH (48 KPH)
Depends on voltage. With 84v, probably just under 30mph. With 96v (as is now config'd), can hit 34mph or so on flat.
AccelerationSlow...perhaps 0-30mph in 15-seconds
Range90 Miles (144 Kilometers)
At roughly 27mph & using full 14 golf cart battery complement.
Seating Capacity5 adult passengers (using dash board seats)
Curb Weight2,700 Pounds (1,227 Kilograms)
If using full complement of 14 golf car flooded batteries. Currently using 8 70ah Hawkers for 96v with roughly 450#(?).
Tires33"x4" on wire rims.
Conversion TimeZero
Conversion CostZero
Milburn was making bodies for Oldsmobile and others in 1913 and decided to build a car of their own. Milburn built several models of their "Milburn Light Electric" from 1915 through 1923. Milburn sold its main plant to General Motors in early 1923 where Buick bodies were then made. It is not clear how many Milburns were made (if any) subsequent to GM killing the Milburn.

code by jerry