ELECTRIC TRUCKS ON DISPLAY

Iowa 80 Constructs Exhibit on Vintage Electric Trucks

WALCOTT, IOWA — In recent times we have witnessed sharp increases in gasoline and diesel prices. Combined with the public’s heightened awareness of the environment, this has led to the renewed interest in, and the reintroduction of, electrically powered vehicles.

Many are under the impression that electric vehicles are a relatively new concept, when in fact use of electric trucks in the U.S. is more than 100 years old.

The Iowa 80 Trucking Museum, which is adjacent to Iowa 80 Truckstop, I-80 Exit 284, has constructed a new exhibit on vintage electric trucks to educate the public on the history and origins of electric vehicles. Included in the exhibit is a 1911 Walker Electric Milk Delivery Truck.

“We are pleased to be able to share this fantastic piece of history with the general public,” says Dave Meier, Museum Curator. “Since there wasn’t a supporting infrastructure for the electric vehicle, the gasoline powered vehicle became
the favored type and many don’t even realize that both were invented at roughly the same time.”

The exhibit displays information about how electric vehicles came to be, their use as well as specific information about the 1911 Walker on display. The Iowa 80 Trucking Museum is open to the general public Wednesday thru Sunday. Admission is free.