[1] In the 1890s, Alfred Ernest Morrison started a small engineering company in Dover Street, Leicester, using £22 of capital given to him by his father.

Gradually, he diversified into gas-powered stationary engines, which were used to power water pumps, compressors and generators for lighting systems.

By the early 20th century, the company was known as AE Morrison & Co, and they started to build Tiger motorcycles, but stationary engines provided the main focus.

[2] During World War I, the company repaired agricultural machinery, but reverted to making stationary engines when hostilities ceased.

Following a discussion with a baker while playing golf in 1933, AC Morrison built a prototype electric vehicle suitable for delivering bread within a month.

These small vehicles were marketed as "Terriers", and the company produced a larger model, called the "Mastiff", capable of carrying 25 or 30 cwt.

Vehicles were exported to Australia, New Zealand and Finland, generally as a kit of parts, with bodywork and batteries being sourced locally, and a left-hand drive option was also available.

[4] Production moved to a new factory on Brunswick Street, South Wigston in 1935 and this allowed them to build complete vehicles, whereas the manufacture of bodies had previously been outsourced to the Brush Electrical Engineering Company in Loughborough.

It suffered from a lack of weather protection for the operator, who sat over the rear wheel, and this also restricted forward visibility.

Having built several for their own use, they then started selling them to other customers, and branched out into battery electric road vehicles in 1945, effectively becoming a competitor to Morrisons.

[6] Following the formation of the business group Associated Electric Vehicle Manufacturers Limited (AEVM) in 1936, AE Morrison worked closely with Electricars.

On 11 January 1936, they became part of a newly created business group called Associated Electric Vehicle Manufacturers Limited (AEVM).

In 1972, British Leyland sold their share of the business to Hawker Siddeley, better known for aircraft manufacture, and the company became Crompton Electricars Ltd.

Ten years later, Hawker Siddeley decided to sell the business, and it was bought by M & M Electric Vehicles, who were based in Atherstone, Warwickshire.

[11] Power was provided by 40 2-volt batteries, and drove a 12 hp (9 kW) motor, giving a top speed of around 25 mph (40 km/h).

[14] The National Transport Museum of Ireland at Howth has a 1946 Morrison's electric laundry van, with the registration number ZD 5957.