Electric milk floats were first seen on the roads and streets of Britain in 1932. The Express Dairy Company introduced a small fleet of electric vehicles in London that eventually replaced the more traditional horse-drawn milk float.
By the 1960s and 70s, electric milk floats were everywhere.
Early each day, long before most of us were awake, the soft humming sound of an electric motor powered milk float signalled the arrival of the milkman. There was no engine roar and no exhaust fumes. Just a steady, reliable hum delivering fresh milk to doorsteps across the country.
It’s easy to forget now, but these electric milk floats were, in many ways, decades ahead of their time. Long before electric cars became the future of transport, they were quietly going about their business through the streets of Britain every day.
Their near-silent operation meant milk was delivered without waking the entire street. At least, the low hum wouldn’t wake you. Occasionally the rattling of crates and bottles reminded us that the milkman was on his way. But their silence was not the reason electric vehicles were used.
Electric power did the job in a way that petrol engines couldn’t match. Milk floats were typically battery-powered, designed specifically for short, frequent journeys. And that’s exactly what was required, as the float was constantly stopping and starting. The milkman would make dozens, sometimes hundreds, of stops on his round every morning.
