1912Reputable sourceWell documented
Kettering's Electric Self-Starter
On the timeline · around 1912 ·
What happened
Early cars had to be started by hand with a crank that could kick back and break a driver's arm — or worse. Charles Kettering's key-operated electric self-starting ignition system, introduced on Cadillac vehicles in 1912 and patented three years later, spun the engine electrically and did away with the dangerous crank. His integrated electrical system also powered ignition and lighting — essentially the layout still used in cars today.
Why it matters
The self-starter made cars far safer and easier to operate, and by removing the strength and effort the hand crank demanded it opened driving to a far wider public, including many more women.
Sources
- HISTORY. Charles F. Kettering, inventor of electric self-starter, is born · Reputable source