Elite chassie 1908-1910s rare?

I found this Picture on facebook today and the owner had bought it as a postcard.Just wonder what`s the "boxes"in the middle of the frames? Seems to be batteries but when reading about the Elite 1908-1910 in my American ,nothing told about batteries on Elite in the book.Must be a rare picture just becuse there are no pictures in the American Cars 1805-1942.

Leif in Sweden

Neat picture. Probably a one off vehicle like many of the 200-400 "car companies" at the turn of the last century

Any idees about the boxes in the middle of the chassie.Batteri boxes or what?The rear axle looks very big,could the electric engine be involved there too.?

Leif in Sweden.

Yes they look heavy with chains and a jacking mechanism to get them up in place. Leif, the rear axle does look like an electric motor built on. What is odd to me is the "radiator" looks to be a functional unit with filler cap on top. Maybe a small gas engine with built in generator to extend the range of the batteries. A hybrid!

This is a German Elite, they made conventional petrol vehicles, but they also made electric vehicles as well. I haven't seen a car the same as this, but it's definitely the same company. I've attached a photo of a 1920's Elite, and you can compare the radiator scripts.

http://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite-Werke%3Fuselang%3Den&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhttp://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite-Werke%253Fuselang%253Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3DJS6%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26channel%3Dsb

Craig thanks.Looks like the right place for this chassie.In that case it a little bit later than I thought(1908-1910,my comments at the postcard.)

Leif in Sweden.

Yes I agree that date is later, maybe into the 1920s. The radiator is reminiscent of the REO of the teens with the protruding top tank. Another clue is the treaded tyres.

There is no sign of a gear shift or spark and throttle levers. The "radiator" looks like it has a false front.

Terry

These are a few photos of some Elite electric vehicles.

Graig,it looks right,there are no louvres on the chassie, as well as on the touring car on your last reply.

Leif in Sweden.

I was browsing early electric vehicles looking for more Elite vehicles, and found a pic I had never seen before. The "La Jamais Contente" was built in 1899 and set the land speed record of 100 km/h (60 mph). The company also built belly tanks for the WWII Lockheed P-38. Unfortunately, the company went bankrupt because the P-38 didn't come into production for another 45 years.

Or maybe proof of time travel?