Walker Electric Truck

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Walker Electric Trucks were battery-powered delivery vehicles built from 1907 to 1942 in Chicago, Illinois, and later Detroit, Michigan. They were designed and produced by the Walker Vehicle Company (not to be confused with the Walker Motor Car Company). In 1916 the Walker Electric Truck line was bought by the Anderson Electric Car Company of Detroit, then sold to Commonwealth Edison of Chicago in 1920, and finally to York & Towne in 1933. The company also manufactured the Chicago Electric Car.

Technical specs and performance:
- Motors: 3.5 horsepower electric motor
- Power source: batteries delivering roughly 66 to 80 volts and up to 40 amps
- Range: about 50 miles
- Top speed: 10–12 mph
- Charging: typically plugged in to recharge overnight after daily deliveries

Uses and impact:
- Replaced horse-drawn deliveries for dairies, bakeries, the U.S. Mail, retail stores, and freight companies
- Marshall Field & Company reportedly operated a fleet of 276 Walker Trucks in 1925

Legacy:
- Some trucks survived for decades and can be found in museums or collections
- Examples include a 1911 Walker Electric Truck at the Iowa Trucking Museum (formerly Bowman Dairy), a 1918 Walker Electric panel van displayed at Thor Electric Truck in Los Angeles, and a Walker Electric Truck used by the Dwinell-Wright Company (1914–1960), later shown at Edaville Railroad in Massachusetts