On April 29, 1899, an electric car was the first vehicle to exceed 100 km/h: La Jamais Contente, designed and driven by the Belgian Camille Jenatzy.
La Jamais Contente: A Torpedo on Wheels
La Jamais Contente has a unique shape, resembling a kind of torpedo or shell made of aluminum and tungsten, all mounted on wheels. The vehicle is equipped with two electric motors placed at the rear between the wheels, developing just under 70 horsepower (or a maximum power of just over 50 kW). Its weight of 1.5 tons includes 750 kg of batteries and 750 kg of bodywork, cabin, and motors.
Built by the Compagnie Générale Belge des Transports Automobiles Jenatzy, La Jamais Contente features a highly innovative design aimed at achieving aerodynamic efficiency: equal-sized wheels, a lightweight body thanks to aluminum, no steering wheel or brake but a steering lever and manual accelerator.
The driver of this remarkable vehicle is the Belgian Camille Jenatzy. He was an electrical engineer with a particular interest in electric traction for automobiles. Determined to break the record held by Count Gaston de Chasseloup-Laubat, which was 92.78 km/h, Jenatzy built La Jamais Contente. His spirited driving and red beard earned him the nickname “Red Devil” from the English press.
Why the Name “La Jamais Contente”?
So why the name “La Jamais Contente” (The Never Satisfied)? Several explanations have been given, but none have ever been confirmed. Some say it describes the car, which often broke down and struggled to function properly. Others believe Camille Jenatzy named it “La Jamais Contente” in reference to his wife’s temperament.
On April 29, 1899, La Jamais Contente set off on a road in Achères, near Paris. It was during a competition organized by La France Automobile. The electric car shattered the record by reaching 105.98 km/h, becoming the first land vehicle to surpass the symbolic 100 km/h mark.
Today, La Jamais Contente is displayed at the Automobile Museum in Compiègne, where it is a highlight.
La Jamais Contente – A Legend Still Alive
In 1993, engineering students from the University of Technology of Compiègne created an exact replica of La Jamais Contente.
At the time, the Lions Clubs (an international humanitarian organization) wanted to take La Jamais Contente out of the Compiègne Museum where it was exhibited. Too fragile to be moved, Joel Debout, a mechanical teacher at UTC, decided to build a replica.
Between making a model of the vehicle, manufacturing identical tires by Michelin, and the powertrain by Fulmen, building this car took three years and over 3000 hours of work.
Today, the Cité de l’Automobile in Mulhouse houses this replica of La Jamais Contente, after the Lions Clubs donated it in 2013.
However, it could no longer run. That’s why its creator Joel Debout decided to repair it in 2017. This allowed it to get back on the road successfully.
On April 29, 2019, in Achères, another Frenchman sought to revive La Jamais Contente’s record on its 120th anniversary. Guillaume Sébileau, an electric car enthusiast, exceeded 100 km/h with three next-generation EVs: a Peugeot Ion, a Bolloré Blue, and an E Smart.
His goal was to demonstrate the evolution of the automotive industry and pay homage to the incredible vehicle that is La Jamais Contente.
La Jamais Contente: A First Step Towards Electric Vehicles
The automobile did not originate with an internal combustion engine; manufacturers tested other power sources, including electricity.
While internal combustion engines were favored in the 20th century, especially for mobility, opinions on this power source varied in the 19th century. Some believed more in electricity than petroleum, like Camille Jenatzy. One reason skeptics doubted combustion engines was the low torque they produced. In contrast, electric motors have always had excellent performance (power, speed, torque, efficiency).
Unfortunately, the electric car could not compete with thermal engines. It was too heavy, too complex, had too little range, and took too long to charge. The battery technology of the time (mainly lead-acid batteries) severely limited the performance of electric cars. La Jamais Contente held its record for only three years.
Steam engines eclipsed electric technology, followed by combustion engines. By the 1920s-30s, gasoline cars gradually dominated the market.
It was only 100 years later, with rising oil costs and the climate emergency, that manufacturers turned back to electric vehicles. Today, the electric vehicle market is booming, with more and more French people opting for this eco-friendly solution.
The Electric Car in History
Discover a monthly article on the history of the electric car, whose industrial and technical adventure dates back a long time! Today, we are happy to share the story of La Jamais Contente. Feel free to check out our other articles on our blog. You will find information on electric cars, buying or selling them, batteries, their aging, and more.