Milburn at Deep Green opening nite Portlcontrollerdashboard and jump seatsSangamo state of charge meter
OwnerMyles Twete
Owner's Other EVsscow barge electric cruiser
1911 Hupp-Yeats
2011 THINK City
LocationPortland, Oregon United States map
Web/EmailWebPage email image
Vehicle1920 Milburn 27L Brougham
Car is an original production 1920 electric 5-passenger Brougham. It has a wheelbase of 105", wire rim wheels w/34" tires, metal body on wood framing.
MotorGeneral Electric GE1051E28W12, 60v, 50a, 1750RPM Series Wound DC
This is the original motor and was used for the 1919 thru 1921 Model 27L Milburn light electrics.
ControllerGeneral Electric 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.
Batteries7 Trojan T-105, 6.00 Volt, Lead-Acid, Flooded
2 strings of 7 batteries each, switchable into 94v or 42v depending on speed. This is the stock configuration except that originally this car would have used 40 or 42 cells.
System Voltage84 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, just under 30mph 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)
Per original spec.
Tires33"x4" on wire rims.
Conversion TimeZero
Conversion CostZero
Milburn was making bodies for Ohio Electric, Oldsmobile and others in 1913 and decided to build a car of their own. Milburn built some dozen models of their "Milburn Light Electric" from 1915 through 1923. Milburn sold its main body plant to General Motors in early 1923 where Buick bodies were to be made by Fisher Body---GM put the factory back on the market later that year deciding they didn't need the capacity. It is estimated that about 5000 Milburns were made and it's unknown how many Milburn trucks or coupes were made and sold subsequent to GM killing the Milburn body production in 1923.

code by jerry