Contract is terminated; cancelled by author request 9/10/2020. The exponential success of battery electric buses calls for a reappraisal of their history. When, in the 19th century, the horse-drawn omnibus was first replaced by motive power, battery-powered buses and streetcars were presented as an alternative to the tramcar. However, operators soon realized the limited autonomy of the heavy batteries and opted for gasoline engines. Even with the...