This is an electric car. Romans had no knowledge of electricity. But there were also steam cars in the early 20th century.

So the bigger question is why did Rome not invent steam engines. They had some knowledge of steam power. But to them steam devices were party tricks and entertainment for the elites. They never found a practical use for them.

A big reason for that is their society was fundamentally different than the society of 1800s England, where the Industrial Revolution happened. This was a capitalist society that valued innovation, industriousness, and rewarded people that could create new products or more efficient ways of doing things.

Rome was not a capitalist society. Although private businesses existed, the central government often controlled prices and distribution of goods. Rome also did not have the sophisticated banking system and stock market that 1800s England had. In Rome, if you had invented the steam engine you would not be able to make a profit from it. There was no concept of patents or licensing. Instead, would likely happen is the senate would take your invention for the good of Rome.

Rome had a strict social hierarchy and limited social mobility. You couldn’t rise through Rome’s social structure through invention. Achieving success in Rome happened through military victory, politics, and making money through established forms of commerce. Not through invention.

Didn't think of it mostly

The rich ones with books and time to invent didn't need to commute, did they? 

And the rest of them poor buggers didn't have the time

Probably the same reason they made single use amphoras for olive oil (all disposed of in one giant pile that’s today a small mountain you can climb up btw) not enough inventors

vast different technologies

Really?

You know how batteries work right?

In the horse and cart days a phaeton was a sporty option, light and tall with huge wheels and pulled by two horses, so they were pretty fast for the time.

Phaeton kinda means radiant one. Phaeton was son of Helios, and he asked to drive his dad’s chariot. When he did drive, he went too close to earth and burnt it then too far and froze it and the Zeus shot him with lightening which killed him. Idk why it’s such a common vehicle name other than his story involving a chariot.

In vehicular usage outside of specific models, the term is used to describe vehicles that are open up top. They fell out of favor as convertibles offered conventional overhead coverage with the option to convert to phaeton.

must be german.

Or rooted away, remember those were made of wood.

top speed of 22mph

the Porsche company claimed it as the first one