Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout is a novel by Victor Appleton, part of the popular Tom Swift series. The book follows Tom Swift, a young inventor, as he builds an electric runabout, a type of car powered by electricity. He enters it in a race to win a large sum of money and prove its worth, but faces challenges and obstacles along the way, including a group of competitors who try to sabotage his efforts. With the help of his friends and his technological skills, Tom overcomes the challenges and secures a win, leading to further adventures and inventions.