Trystan Casey
Electric vehicles have been around for over a century, with the first electric cars appearing before the earliest gas autos. The history of the electric vehicle can be divided into several periods, from the early pioneers of electric mobility in the 1800s to the electric revolution of the 2000s and the tipping point in 2021 and beyond. The first electric vehicles were created by innovators in Hungary, the Netherlands, the UK, and the US, with British inventor Robert Anderson creating the first crude electric vehicle in 1832. However, it wasn't until the second half of the 19th century that more practical versions were built in France and England. The world's first police car was an electric wagon for the Akron Police Department in 1899, and electric vehicles continued to gain popularity in the early 1900s due to their advantages over gasoline cars, such as the lack of vibration, smell, and noise.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First electric vehicle | Likely the first human-carrying electric vehicle with its own power source was tested by French inventor Gustave Trouvé in 1881. |
| First successful electric car | Created by William Morrison, a chemist from Iowa, in 1890. |
| First electric car company | The Samuel's Electric Carriage and Wagon Company, which began running electric cabs in New York City in 1897. |
| First mass-market electric car company | Electric Vehicle Company (EVC), which had over 600 electric cabs operating in New York City and smaller fleets in other cities in the early 1900s. |
| First hybrid electric car | Developed by Ferdinand Porsche in 1898. |
| First modern EV period | Marked by the development and release of the Tesla Roadster in 2008. |
| Current popularity | Electric vehicles are more popular than ever, with a rise in sales due to improved technology, environmental concerns, and increasing fuel costs. |
| Future outlook | Dozens of pure electric models are set to debut by the end of 2025, and electric vehicle sales are expected to grow worldwide. |
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What You'll Learn
Early innovators in Hungary, the Netherlands and the United States
The history of electric vehicles is a long and fascinating one, with innovators from around the world contributing to their development over the years. Here is a look at some of the early pioneers in Hungary, the Netherlands, and the United States.
Hungary
Hungary's automotive sector is highly specialized in the manufacture of internal combustion engine vehicles and parts. As the industry transitions to electric vehicles, there are concerns about the impact on traditional combustion engine manufacturers. However, the country is also home to several innovative start-ups exploring electrification.
The Netherlands
The Dutch market for electric vehicles has been making steady progress, with sales reaching early majority buyers. In 2016, the Netherlands reached over 10% plug-in vehicle sales, mostly plug-in hybrids, and has been working to increase the electrification of road transport. While the Dutch market follows Norway's lead in this sector, it has been making strides in EV adoption, with an increasing number of buyers recognizing the benefits of electric vehicles.
United States
The United States has a long history of innovation in the electric vehicle space. As early as the 1830s, Ransom Eli Olds built a short run of electric horseless carriages before devising the first mass-market Oldsmobile cars. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, soaring oil prices and gasoline shortages sparked a growing interest in electric and hybrid vehicles. Congress passed the Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1976, leading to increased research and development in this area. American innovators like Thomas Edison and Henry Ford also explored electric vehicle technology, with Ford partnering with Edison to work on a low-cost electric car in 1914. More recently, companies like Tesla Motors and Corbin Motors have contributed to the advancement of electric vehicles, with Tesla releasing the first-generation Roadster in 2008 and Corbin introducing the half-car/half-bike Corbin Sparrow in 1999.
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The first electric vehicles
The history of the electric vehicle (EV) is a long one, dating back to the early 19th century. While it is difficult to pinpoint the invention of the electric car to one inventor or country, several pioneers in Hungary, the Netherlands, the UK, and the US are credited with creating some of the first small-scale electric cars between 1828 and 1832.
One of the earliest known electric vehicles was created by British inventor Robert Anderson in 1832. However, this was a crude electric carriage, and it wasn't until the second half of the 19th century that more practical electric cars were developed in France and England. French inventor Gustave Trouvé is credited with testing what was likely the first human-carrying electric vehicle with its own power source on a Paris street in April 1881. He adapted a small electric motor developed by Siemens and fitted it to an English James Starley tricycle, creating the world's first electric vehicle.
In 1884, English inventor Thomas Parker, known for electrifying the London Underground, built the first production electric car in Wolverhampton. This was followed in 1888 by the Flocken Elektrowagen, considered the first functional electric car, built by German engineer Andreas Flocken. The Flocken Elektrowagen was a four-wheeled open carriage with a 1-horsepower electric motor, a rechargeable lead-acid battery, and a top speed of 9 mph.
The first successful electric vehicle in the US was created around 1890 by American chemist William Morrison. His six-passenger vehicle had a top speed of 14 miles per hour and helped spark interest in electric vehicles across America. During this time, electric vehicles began to gain popularity due to their advantages over gasoline-powered cars, such as reduced vibration, smell, and noise. The world's first police car was an electric wagon for the Akron Police Department in 1899.
In the early 1900s, electric cars faced a decline due to the high cost, low top speed, and short range compared to internal combustion engine vehicles. The mass production of gasoline-powered cars, such as Henry Ford's Model T, further contributed to the decline of electric vehicles. However, the history of electric vehicles is marked by several periods of innovation and resurgence, with the technology continuing to evolve and gain acceptance worldwide.
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Electric taxis in the 1900s
Electric vehicles were introduced more than a century ago, and they are witnessing a resurgence in popularity today. The history of electric vehicles can be traced back to the early 1800s, with the first electric car appearing before the first gasoline automobile. The first human-carrying electric vehicle with its own power source was tested in Paris in 1881 by French inventor Gustave Trouvé. However, the first successful electric car in the US debuted around 1890, thanks to William Morrison, a chemist from Iowa.
Electric taxis, or cabs, became available at the end of the 19th century. In 1897, Walter Bersey designed and introduced a fleet of electric cabs to the streets of London. These vehicles were known as Bersey Electric Cab or London Electrical Cab and became the first electric hackney carriages (black cabs) in London. They were designed to resemble traditional horse-drawn cabs, with solid rubber tires for grip on greasy pavements. The Bersey cabs had a top speed of up to 12 mph and could carry two passengers. They were initially popular and were nicknamed "Hummingbirds" due to the distinctive sound they made and their livery. However, they suffered from wear and tear due to their heavy weight, which damaged the batteries and tires, making them expensive to maintain and unprofitable to operate.
In the same year, 1897, New York City saw the introduction of electric taxis with the formation of the Samuel's Electric Carriage and Wagon Company. They operated up to 62 cabs until 1898, when the company was reformed to become the Electric Vehicle Company. These electric hansom cabs offered several advantages over their early-1900s competitors, including the absence of vibration, smell, noise, and the need for gear changes, which were common in gasoline-powered cars.
It is worth noting that the acceptance of electric cars in the early 1900s was hindered by the lack of power infrastructure and the high cost, low top speed, and short range of early electric vehicles. However, electric vehicles were still preferred by some due to their quiet and smooth operation, and they continued to be used for public transport, especially rail vehicles.
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Electric vehicles' popularity in the 1910s
Electric vehicles were extremely popular in the 1910s. By 1900, electric cars were at their heyday, accounting for around a third of all vehicles on the road. They were especially popular in cities, with New York City having a fleet of more than 60 electric taxis. Electric vehicles had several advantages over their competitors in the early 1900s. They did not have the vibration, smell, and noise associated with gasoline cars, and they did not require gear changes. They were also easier to operate, lacking a manual crank to start the engine. These attributes made them popular among urban residents, especially upper-class women.
The production of electric vehicles peaked in 1912, with manufacturers such as Fritchle building about 198 vehicles per year between 1909 and 1914. However, the introduction of mass-produced gasoline cars, such as Henry Ford's Model T in 1908, dealt a blow to the electric car industry. By 1912, a gasoline car cost only $650 while the average electric roadster sold for $1,750. In addition, the invention of the first electric automobile starter by Charles Kettering in 1912 made gasoline cars even more attractive to consumers.
Despite these challenges, electric vehicles continued to find niche applications where their limited range was not a major issue. They were used for urban transportation, especially in cities with access to electricity, and for specific purposes such as loading and freight equipment and public transport, including rail vehicles. Electric vehicles also became popular for certain commercial applications, such as forklift trucks and milk floats in Europe, especially in the United Kingdom.
The early popularity of electric vehicles in the 1910s can be attributed to their advantages over gasoline-powered cars at the time, as well as the increasing accessibility of electricity, making charging more convenient for urban residents. However, the advancements in gasoline car technology and the decreasing prices of gasoline vehicles gradually reduced the market share of electric cars as time went on.
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Modern electric vehicles
The Early Days of Electric Vehicles
The first electric vehicles appeared in the 19th century, with innovators in Hungary, the Netherlands, and the United States creating some of the first small-scale electric cars. Robert Anderson, a British inventor, developed the first crude electric carriage around this time, and French and English inventors built some of the first practical electric cars in the second half of the 19th century. By the end of the 19th century, electric battery-powered taxis were available in London and New York City, and by 1900, electric cars were at their peak, accounting for around a third of all vehicles on the road. However, in the early 20th century, the high cost, low top speed, and limited range of electric vehicles compared to internal combustion engine cars led to a decline in their popularity.
The Resurgence of Electric Vehicles
The energy crises of the 1970s and 1980s brought a renewed interest in electric vehicles due to their perceived independence from the fluctuations of the hydrocarbon energy market. During the Arab-Israeli war, an oil embargo was imposed on the United States, causing oil prices to spike and gasoline to become scarce and expensive. This led to a resurgence in the development of electric vehicles, with companies like General Motors and General Electric introducing electric models. However, these early attempts at electric vehicles had limited capabilities and were not widely adopted.
Modern Innovations in Electric Vehicles
In recent years, advancements in technology and the decreasing cost of lithium-ion batteries have led to the success of many modern electric vehicles. Tesla's Model 3 and Model Y are among the world's best-selling electric cars, along with the Hyundai Kona Electric SUV, Volkswagen ID.3, Chevy Bolt, and Nissan Leaf. The Nissan Leaf, in particular, was the first modern all-electric vehicle produced for the masses by a major automaker. As of 2023, there are over 10 million electric vehicles on the roads worldwide, and it is estimated that by 2030, many automakers will stop producing gasoline-powered vehicles altogether. The list of options for electric vehicles continues to grow, with various body styles and price points available, making zero-emissions driving more accessible to consumers.
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Frequently asked questions
It is hard to pinpoint the invention of the electric vehicle to one inventor or country. However, Gustave Trouvé is known for testing the first human-carrying electric vehicle with its own power source along a Paris street in April 1881.
While Robert Anderson, a British inventor, developed the first crude electric carriage in the 19th century, it is believed that William Morrison created the first practical electric car in 1890.
Ferdinand Porsche, the founder of the sports car company, developed the world's first hybrid electric car in 1898.
Some of the oldest electric car brands include General Motors, Nissan, Chevrolet, and Tesla.
Most early electric vehicles were massive, ornate carriages designed for upper-class customers. They featured luxurious interiors and were marketed as luxury cars for women.
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