Frantisek Krizik (Czech: František Křižík; 8 July 1847 – 22 January 1941) was a Czech inventor, electrical engineer, and entrepreneur. He is considered the pioneer of practical electrical engineering and the electrification of Bohemia and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. During his time, he was often compared to Thomas Alva Edison.
In 1878, Krizik invented a remotely operated signaling device to prevent collisions between trains. His initial experiments led to the invention of the automatic electric arc lamp with self-adjusting brushes in 1880. This invention earned him the gold medal at the International Exposition of Electricity in Paris in 1881, out of 50 similar devices.
In 1884, he established his own company, which focused on building city lighting, tramway lines, street cars, power stations, and various electric equipment.
In 1895 he built one of the first prototypes of an electromobile in the Austrian Empire. He gradually improved it. In the third version, he added an internal combustion engine to the two electric motors, increasing the range. The engine drove a dynamo that recharged the batteries. But batteries were expensive and heavy at the time.
Krizik's private company established and operated the second Prague electric tramway on the Prague Karlin - Liben - Vysocany line. It was put into operation in 1896 and when completed it measured 7.77 km long. The maximum speed allowed was 15 km/h.
Krizik also built the first electrified railway in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, connecting the cities of Tabor and Bechyne in 1903. During his lifetime he gradually equipped 130 Czech power plants with his equipment.
Krizik, like Thomas Alva Edison, believed in the future of direct current. However, alternating current held greater promise, which gradually led to business failures and financial difficulties for Krizik. He retired in 1917 and died in 1941.
Source: 1) Wikipedia, 2) Adolf Kuba: Atlas našich automobilů 1, Nadas, 1987
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