BUGATTI’S FIRST EV

As well as cars, Ettore Bugatti was big into diverse new technology. There’s a surprising amount of archive video footage available from the time, because he thought it was important. And a company derived from his original one (unrelated to the car stuff) still makes aircraft componentry locally.

In 1927, Ettore Bugatti made his first EV, the Type 56. He designed it for running around his estate without disturbing his horses or wildlife and so he could surprise staff, but some people wanted one, so he made more – reputedly six.

Ten years ago, Bugatti bought one, made for the Queen of Luxembourg, at an auction in the US to display in the factory’s small museum.

The two-seater drives. It has new batteries, of course. Eight of them, powering a single motor. Our guide suggests it could do 40mph but, it being directed by a tiller rather than a wheel, I’m not sure I would want to try that.

Whatever happens to the next generation of Bugatti hypercar, then, it won’t be the first Bugatti to be electrically powered.