Introduced over a century ago, electric cars are experiencing a significant resurgence in popularity today, echoing many of the same reasons that initially propelled them into the limelight. As consumers increasingly seek cost-effective alternatives at the gas pump and with growing environmental consciousness, the demand for electric drive vehicles – whether hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or all-electric – is poised for continued growth. Current figures show electric vehicles representing more than 3% of new car sales, and projections by Navigant Research suggest a potential surge to nearly 7% – approximately 6.6 million vehicles annually – worldwide by 2020.
This burgeoning interest in electric vehicles prompts us to delve into the historical trajectory of this technology, tracing its origins and exploring its future direction. Join us on a journey through time as we uncover the fascinating history of the electric car and understand the narrative of The First Electric Car.
The Genesis of Electric Mobility
Pinpointing the precise inventor or nation responsible for the first electric car proves to be a complex task. Instead of a singular eureka moment, the electric car’s inception was the culmination of numerous groundbreaking advancements throughout the 1800s – from the crucial development of the battery to the refinement of the electric motor.
Early in the 19th century, visionary inventors across Hungary, the Netherlands, and the United States – including an innovative blacksmith from Vermont – began toying with the revolutionary concept of a battery-powered vehicle. Their pioneering efforts resulted in some of the earliest rudimentary electric cars, albeit on a small scale. Around the same period, Robert Anderson, a British inventor, engineered a primitive electric carriage. However, it was not until the latter half of the 19th century that French and English inventors truly propelled the electric car into practicality, constructing some of the first functional electric vehicles.
Alt Text: A vintage illustration showcasing various early electric vehicles from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, highlighting their diverse designs and elegant appearance.
In the United States, the emergence of the first successful electric car is often attributed to William Morrison, a chemist residing in Des Moines, Iowa, around 1890. His creation, a six-passenger vehicle capable of reaching a top speed of 14 miles per hour, was essentially an electrified wagon. Despite its basic nature, Morrison’s vehicle played a pivotal role in igniting widespread interest in electric vehicles within America.
The subsequent years witnessed a proliferation of electric vehicles from various emerging automakers across the U.S. New York City even boasted a fleet of over 60 electric taxis, demonstrating the early commercial viability of the technology. By the dawn of the 20th century, electric cars had reached their initial zenith, constituting approximately one-third of all vehicles navigating the roads. This strong market presence continued into the following decade, underscoring the early dominance of electric propulsion.
The Initial Ascent and Decline of Electric Cars
To fully grasp the widespread appeal of electric vehicles around 1900, it’s crucial to contextualize their development within the broader evolution of personal transportation and the competing technologies of the era. At the turn of the 20th century, the horse remained the dominant mode of personal transportation. However, as societal prosperity grew, individuals increasingly turned to the newly invented motor vehicle as a means of mobility. These early motor vehicles were available in three primary forms: steam-powered, gasoline-powered, and electric.
Steam power, a well-established and reliable energy source proven in factories and trains, fueled some of the earliest self-propelled vehicles dating back to the late 1700s. However, it wasn’t until the 1870s that steam technology gained traction in automobiles. Despite its maturity, steam power presented practical limitations for personal vehicles. Steam cars required lengthy start-up times, sometimes stretching to 45 minutes in cold weather, and necessitated frequent water refills, restricting their operational range.
Simultaneously, as electric vehicles began entering the market, gasoline-powered cars emerged as a competing technology, driven by advancements in internal combustion engine technology throughout the 1800s. While gasoline cars showed promise, they were not without significant drawbacks. Operating them demanded considerable manual effort; gear changes were cumbersome, and starting the engine required a hand crank, making them challenging for some individuals to operate. Furthermore, gasoline cars were notoriously noisy and produced unpleasant exhaust fumes.
Electric cars, in stark contrast, sidestepped the issues plaguing both steam and gasoline vehicles. They operated silently, were remarkably easy to drive, and produced no noxious pollutants, unlike their contemporaries. Electric cars rapidly gained favor among urban dwellers, particularly women, who valued their clean and quiet operation. They were ideally suited for short urban commutes, and the underdeveloped road infrastructure beyond city limits restricted the practicality of longer journeys for all vehicle types. As electricity access expanded into more homes during the 1910s, charging electric cars became increasingly convenient, further bolstering their popularity across diverse demographics, including some of the “best known and prominent makers of gasoline cars,” as noted in a 1911 New York Times article.
Recognizing the burgeoning demand for electric vehicles, numerous innovators of the era explored avenues to enhance the technology. Ferdinand Porsche, the founder of the renowned sports car company, notably developed an electric car named the P1 in 1898. Around the same time, he pioneered the world’s first hybrid electric car – a vehicle ingeniously combining electric and gasoline engine power. Thomas Edison, a prolific inventor of global renown, championed electric vehicles as the superior technology and dedicated his efforts to developing improved electric vehicle batteries. Even Henry Ford, a friend of Edison, collaborated with him in 1914 to investigate the feasibility of a low-cost electric car, as reported by Wired.
Alt Text: A historical black and white photograph of an early Detroit Electric car from the early 1900s, showcasing its elegant design and enclosed cabin, popular among urban drivers.
However, it was Henry Ford’s revolutionary mass-produced Model T that ultimately dealt a significant blow to the electric car’s early dominance. Introduced in 1908, the Model T made gasoline-powered cars widely accessible and remarkably affordable. By 1912, the price of a gasoline car plummeted to just $650, while an electric roadster commanded a price of $1,750. In the same year, Charles Kettering’s invention of the electric starter eliminated the cumbersome hand crank, further enhancing the appeal and convenience of gasoline-powered vehicles.
Additional factors contributed to the decline of electric vehicles. By the 1920s, the United States had developed a more extensive network of roads connecting cities, fueling a desire for longer-distance travel and exploration. The discovery of abundant crude oil in Texas led to a surge in gasoline availability and a dramatic drop in prices, making it readily accessible even in rural areas. Gasoline filling stations began to proliferate across the nation, establishing a convenient refueling infrastructure. Conversely, electricity access remained limited outside of urban centers during this period. Consequently, electric vehicles largely faded from prominence by 1935, relegated to a niche market.
Gas Shortages Ignite Renewed Interest in Electric Vehicles
For approximately three decades following their initial decline, electric vehicles entered a period of technological stagnation and limited development. The combination of inexpensive and readily available gasoline, coupled with continuous advancements in internal combustion engine technology, suppressed demand for alternative fuel vehicles, including electric cars.
However, the late 1960s and early 1970s witnessed a dramatic shift. Surging oil prices and acute gasoline shortages, culminating in the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo, triggered a growing national imperative to reduce reliance on foreign oil and seek domestically sourced fuel alternatives. The U.S. Congress responded by passing the Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1976. This landmark legislation authorized the Department of Energy to actively support research and development initiatives focused on electric and hybrid vehicles, marking a significant government investment in the technology.
During this period of renewed interest, numerous automakers, both major corporations and smaller firms, began exploring alternative fuel vehicle options, with electric cars once again under consideration. General Motors, for example, developed a prototype urban electric car, showcasing it at the Environmental Protection Agency’s First Symposium on Low Pollution Power Systems Development in 1973. The American Motor Company produced electric delivery jeeps, which the United States Postal Service evaluated in a 1975 pilot program. Even NASA contributed to raising the profile of electric vehicles; its electric Lunar rover became the first manned vehicle to traverse the lunar surface in 1971, capturing global attention.
Despite these renewed efforts, the electric vehicles developed and produced in the 1970s still faced performance limitations compared to their gasoline counterparts. Their top speeds typically capped at 45 miles per hour, and their driving range was generally limited to around 40 miles before requiring a recharge, hindering their practicality for broader consumer adoption.
Environmental Concerns Propel Electric Vehicles Forward
Fast forward once more, this time to the 1990s. In the two decades since the gasoline crises of the 1970s, public interest in electric vehicles had largely waned again. However, new federal and state regulations began to reshape the automotive landscape. The passage of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendment and the 1992 Energy Policy Act, coupled with stringent new transportation emissions regulations enacted by the California Air Resources Board, collectively fostered a resurgence of interest in electric vehicles within the United States.
During this era, automakers started adapting some of their popular existing vehicle models into electric versions. This engineering approach led to significant improvements in electric vehicle performance. Electric cars of the 1990s achieved speeds and performance levels much closer to gasoline-powered vehicles, and many offered a driving range of approximately 60 miles, addressing some previous limitations.
One of the most iconic electric cars of this period was GM’s EV1, a vehicle prominently featured in the 2006 documentary Who Killed the Electric Car? Unlike other electric vehicles of the time that were modifications of existing models, GM designed and developed the EV1 from the ground up as a dedicated electric vehicle platform. Boasting a range of 80 miles and the ability to accelerate from 0 to 50 miles per hour in a mere seven seconds, the EV1 rapidly garnered a dedicated following. However, due to high production costs and limited commercial viability in the prevailing market conditions, GM ultimately discontinued the EV1 program in 2001.
Amidst a booming economy, a growing middle class, and low gasoline prices in the late 1990s, many consumers prioritized vehicle size and performance over fuel efficiency. Public attention to electric vehicles remained relatively muted. Nevertheless, behind the scenes, scientists and engineers, supported by the Department of Energy, continued to diligently work on advancing electric vehicle technology, particularly battery technology.
A New Dawn for Electric Cars
While the intermittent periods of activity and stagnation in the electric vehicle industry throughout the latter half of the 20th century served to demonstrate the inherent potential of the technology, the true and sustained revival of the electric car commenced around the beginning of the 21st century. Depending on individual perspectives, either of two pivotal events can be credited with igniting the widespread interest in electric vehicles that we witness today.
The first turning point frequently cited is the introduction of the Toyota Prius. Launched in Japan in 1997, the Prius became the world’s first mass-produced hybrid electric vehicle. In 2000, the Prius was released globally and achieved instant success, particularly among celebrities, significantly elevating the profile of hybrid technology. Toyota’s realization of the Prius relied on nickel metal hydride battery technology, an area significantly supported by Department of Energy research. Subsequently, rising gasoline prices and escalating concerns about carbon emissions have contributed to the Prius becoming the best-selling hybrid vehicle worldwide for over a decade.
(Historical note: Prior to the Prius’s U.S. debut, Honda launched the Insight hybrid in 1999, making it the first hybrid vehicle sold in the U.S. since the early 1900s.)
The second transformative event was the 2006 announcement by Tesla Motors, a small Silicon Valley startup, of its intention to produce a luxury electric sports car capable of exceeding 200 miles on a single charge. In 2010, Tesla received a $465 million loan from the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office – a loan Tesla repaid a full nine years ahead of schedule – to establish a manufacturing facility in California. In the relatively short period since, Tesla has garnered widespread acclaim for its vehicles and has become the largest auto industry employer in California.
Tesla’s announcement and subsequent success catalyzed many established automakers to accelerate their own electric vehicle development programs. In late 2010, the Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan LEAF were launched in the U.S. market. The Volt, the first commercially available plug-in hybrid, incorporated a gasoline engine to supplement its electric drive after battery depletion, offering consumers the flexibility of electric driving for most commutes with extended range capability via gasoline. Conversely, the LEAF is an all-electric vehicle (also known as a battery-electric vehicle or simply an EV), powered exclusively by an electric motor.
Alt Text: A contemporary photograph of a modern electric vehicle charging at a public charging station, illustrating the current infrastructure supporting electric car usage and highlighting the ease of charging.
Over the ensuing years, other automakers progressively introduced electric vehicles into the U.S. market. However, consumers still encountered one of the enduring challenges of electric vehicle adoption: the availability of convenient public charging infrastructure. Through the Recovery Act, the Department of Energy invested over $115 million to facilitate the development of a nationwide charging infrastructure, resulting in the installation of more than 18,000 residential, commercial, and public chargers across the country. Automakers and private businesses have also deployed their own charging stations at strategic locations throughout the U.S., bringing the current total of public electric vehicle charging locations to over 8,000, encompassing more than 20,000 individual charging outlets.
Concurrently, advancements in battery technology, supported by the Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office, began to permeate the market, significantly improving the driving range of plug-in electric vehicles. Building upon battery technology utilized in nearly all first-generation hybrids, Department research also contributed to the development of lithium-ion battery technology employed in the Volt. More recently, Department investments in battery research and development have facilitated a 50% reduction in electric vehicle battery costs over the past four years, while simultaneously enhancing battery performance in terms of power, energy density, and durability. These advancements have, in turn, lowered the overall cost of electric vehicles, making them increasingly accessible to a broader consumer base.
Today, consumers enjoy an unprecedented array of choices in the electric vehicle market. Currently, 23 plug-in electric and 36 hybrid models are available in diverse vehicle segments, ranging from the compact two-passenger Smart ED to the midsize Ford C-Max Energi and the luxurious BMW i3 SUV. As gasoline prices continue to fluctuate and the prices of electric vehicles continue a downward trend, electric vehicles are experiencing a surge in popularity. Over 234,000 plug-in electric vehicles and 3.3 million hybrids are currently on the roads in the United States.
The Trajectory of Electric Cars: Looking Ahead
Predicting the precise future trajectory of electric vehicles remains uncertain, but their potential to contribute to a more sustainable future is undeniable. If the entire fleet of light-duty vehicles in the United States transitioned to hybrid or plug-in electric vehicles utilizing existing technology, we could potentially reduce our dependence on foreign oil by 30-60%, while simultaneously lowering carbon emissions from the transportation sector by as much as 20%.
To accelerate progress towards these emissions reductions, President Obama launched the EV Everywhere Grand Challenge in 2012 – a Department of Energy initiative uniting leading American scientists, engineers, and businesses to make plug-in electric vehicles as affordable as today’s gasoline-powered vehicles by 2022. On the battery technology front, the Department’s Joint Center for Energy Storage Research at Argonne National Laboratory is actively working to overcome the most significant scientific and technical hurdles impeding large-scale battery improvements.
Furthermore, the Department’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) is spearheading the development of transformative technologies that could fundamentally reshape our perception of electric vehicles. ARPA-E projects encompass investments in novel battery chemistries capable of extending driving range on a single charge and cost-effective alternatives to critical materials used in electric motors, all with the potential to revolutionize electric vehicle technology.
Ultimately, the future path of electric vehicles will unfold over time. However, their journey from the first electric car prototypes to today’s sophisticated models underscores a century-long commitment to innovation and a promising trajectory towards sustainable transportation.
