The cabs were withdrawn in August 1899 and electric hackney carriages did not return to the streets of London until the Nissan Dynamo was introduced in October 2019.

[6] The vehicle's four wheels were clad with solid rubber tyres that were intended to provide grip on London's greasy pavements.

[4] Bersey said the advantages of his invention were that "there is no smell, no noise, no heat, no vibration, no possible danger, and it has been found that vehicles built on this company's system do not frighten passing horses".

An example was entered in the 14 November 1896 London to Brighton emancipation race, a celebration of the passing of the Locomotives on Highways Act 1896, which relaxed regulations and speed limits for road vehicles.

[6] As part of their licensing conditions, the Metropolitan Police had stipulated that they should meet four requirements: that they would be driven only by professional drivers, and that they should be able to stop on demand, turn around in a small radius, and be able to climb Savoy Hill, the steepest in the city.

[6] The same fares were charged as for horse-drawn cabs, and the Berseys were initially quite popular – even the Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VII) travelled in one.

Smith, who said he had consumed 2-3 glasses of beer, became the first person ever to be charged with drink driving and was fined 20 shillings at Marlborough Street Police Court.

[9][10][11] Another incident saw a driver lose control and crash at Hyde Park Gate, causing extensive damage to property.

After six months of operation they tended to be badly worn and produced increased vibration,[1] which affected the delicate glass plates in the batteries.

[6][4] The high cost of replacement batteries and tyres made the vehicles unprofitable, and the London Electrical Cab Company reported losses of £6,200 (equivalent to £842,487 in 2023) in its first year.

[8] Liat Clark, writing in Wired UK, considered that the downfall of the company was the result of a campaign by horse-drawn cab drivers and bad press caused by breakdowns and accidents.