Electric cars, often hailed as a modern innovation, actually boast a history stretching back over a century. While experiencing a surge in popularity today for reasons echoing their initial appeal, understanding the genesis of the electric vehicle requires a journey into the 19th century. Let’s explore the fascinating story of when the first electric car was made and the pioneering steps that paved the way for today’s EV revolution.
The Early Sparks: The Genesis of Electric Mobility
Pinpointing the exact moment and individual behind the “first” electric car is complex. It wasn’t a singular invention but rather a culmination of breakthroughs in battery and electric motor technology throughout the 1800s. Across continents, inventors were independently exploring the potential of electric power for transportation.
In the early decades of the 19th century, the concept of battery-powered vehicles began to take shape. Innovators in various countries, including Hungary, the Netherlands, and the United States, started experimenting with rudimentary electric carriages. Figures like Ányos Jedlik in Hungary and Sibrandus Stratingh in the Netherlands are credited with creating some of the earliest small-scale electric models. Simultaneously, in Vermont, USA, a blacksmith was also reportedly tinkering with similar ideas, reflecting a widespread interest in this emerging technology.
Around the 1830s, Robert Anderson, a Scottish inventor, developed what is often cited as one of the earliest crude electric carriages. This period marked the initial forays into electric propulsion, albeit in early and somewhat impractical forms. However, these pioneering efforts laid the groundwork for more refined and functional electric vehicles later in the century.
Alt text: Conceptual illustration of a very early electric car design, resembling a horse-drawn carriage without the horse, highlighting the nascent stage of electric vehicle development.
The latter half of the 19th century witnessed significant advancements. French and English inventors emerged as key players in building more practical electric cars. Names like Gaston Planté, who invented the lead-acid battery in 1859, and Camille Alphonse Faure, who improved the design in 1881, were instrumental in providing a reliable power source for these vehicles. These battery innovations were critical, making sustained electric propulsion a viable possibility.
America’s First Spark: William Morrison’s Electric Carriage
While Europe was at the forefront of early electric car development, the United States soon joined the innovation race. Around 1890, in Des Moines, Iowa, chemist William Morrison built what is widely considered the first successful electric car in the United States.
Morrison’s vehicle, capable of carrying six passengers and reaching a top speed of 14 miles per hour, was essentially an electrified wagon. Despite its rudimentary nature compared to modern EVs, it was a functional and publicly demonstrated electric car that significantly boosted interest in electric vehicles within America. It wasn’t just a concept or a small model; Morrison’s car was large enough to carry passengers and demonstrated the practical potential of electric propulsion on American roads.
Alt text: Photograph of William Morrison’s pioneering electric car from 1890, showcasing its wagon-like design and historical significance as an early American EV.
Following Morrison’s successful demonstration, electric vehicles began to gain traction across the U.S. Automakers started producing various electric models, and even New York City adopted a fleet of over 60 electric taxis, showcasing the commercial viability of EVs in urban settings. By 1900, electric cars reached their peak early popularity, accounting for approximately one-third of all vehicles on the roads. For the next decade, they continued to enjoy strong sales, cementing their place in the early automotive landscape.
The Rise and Fall: Electric Cars at the Turn of the Century
To fully grasp the initial popularity of electric vehicles around 1900, it’s crucial to consider the broader context of personal transportation development and the competing technologies of the era: steam and gasoline. At the dawn of the 20th century, the horse remained the dominant mode of transport. However, as prosperity grew, people sought newer motorized options – steam, gasoline, and electric cars – to enhance their mobility.
Steam power was a well-established energy source, proven reliable in factories and trains. While steam-powered vehicles existed as early as the late 1700s, they didn’t become practical for personal cars until the 1870s. However, steam vehicles had significant drawbacks for personal use. They required lengthy startup times, sometimes up to 45 minutes in cold weather, and needed frequent water refills, limiting their range. These inconveniences made steam cars less appealing for everyday personal transportation.
Simultaneously, gasoline-powered cars emerged, thanks to advancements in internal combustion engine technology during the 19th century. While promising, early gasoline cars were far from user-friendly. Driving them required considerable physical effort, gear changes were cumbersome, and starting the engine involved a hand crank, making operation difficult for many, especially women. They were also noisy and produced unpleasant exhaust fumes.
Electric cars, in contrast, sidestepped many of these issues. They were quiet, easy to operate, and produced no tailpipe emissions, a significant advantage over the smoky and smelly steam and gasoline vehicles of the time. Electric cars quickly gained favor among urban dwellers, particularly women, who appreciated their cleanliness and ease of use. They were ideal for short trips within cities, and the poor road conditions outside urban areas limited the practicality of any type of car for long journeys. As electricity access expanded in the 1910s, charging electric cars became more convenient, further boosting their appeal across different segments of society, even attracting interest from “best known and prominent makers of gasoline cars,” as noted in a 1911 New York Times article.
Numerous innovators recognized the electric vehicle’s potential and high demand, striving to improve the technology further. Ferdinand Porsche, later founder of the iconic sports car company, developed an electric car named the P1 in 1898. Around the same time, he also created the world’s first hybrid electric car, combining electric and gasoline power. Thomas Edison, a staunch advocate for electric technology, believed electric vehicles were superior and dedicated efforts to developing better electric car batteries. Even Henry Ford, who was friends with Edison, collaborated with him in 1914 to explore the feasibility of a low-cost electric car, highlighting the widespread belief in the potential of electric vehicles at the time.
Alt text: Vintage advertisement for electric cars circa early 1900s, emphasizing their clean, quiet, and easy operation, appealing to urban residents and women drivers.
However, it was Henry Ford’s revolutionary mass-produced Model T, introduced in 1908, that ultimately dealt a severe blow to the electric car’s dominance. The Model T made gasoline-powered cars widely accessible and affordable. By 1912, a gasoline car cost just $650, while an electric roadster was priced at a much higher $1,750. That same year, Charles Kettering’s invention of the electric starter eliminated the need for the cumbersome hand crank in gasoline cars, further enhancing their appeal and ease of use, making them more attractive to a broader audience.
Other factors also contributed to the decline of electric vehicles. By the 1920s, improved road infrastructure began connecting cities across the U.S., and Americans desired to travel longer distances. The discovery of abundant and cheap crude oil in Texas made gasoline readily available and affordable, particularly in rural areas, and gas stations began proliferating nationwide. In contrast, electricity was still not widely available outside of urban centers at that time. Consequently, by 1935, electric vehicles had largely vanished from the automotive landscape, eclipsed by the cheaper, longer-range, and increasingly convenient gasoline-powered car.
Revivals and Resurgence: From Gas Crises to Environmental Concerns
For roughly three decades, electric vehicle technology stagnated in a “dark age,” with minimal advancements. The combination of inexpensive and plentiful gasoline and continuous improvements in internal combustion engines suppressed demand for alternative fuel vehicles.
The late 1960s and early 1970s marked a turning point. Surging oil prices and gasoline shortages, culminating in the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo, triggered renewed interest in reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil and exploring domestic fuel sources. In response, Congress passed the Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1976, authorizing the Department of Energy to support research and development in electric and hybrid vehicles. This legislative action signaled a government-backed effort to revive interest in electric mobility.
Around this time, major and smaller automakers began to re-explore alternative fuel vehicle options, including electric cars. General Motors, for example, developed a prototype urban electric car showcased at the Environmental Protection Agency’s First Symposium on Low Pollution Power Systems Development in 1973. American Motor Company produced electric delivery jeeps used by the United States Postal Service in a 1975 test program, demonstrating practical applications for electric vehicles in specific sectors. Even NASA contributed to raising the profile of electric vehicles when its electric Lunar rover became the first manned vehicle to drive on the moon in 1971, showcasing the technology’s capability in demanding environments.
However, the electric vehicles developed in the 1970s still faced significant limitations compared to gasoline cars. Performance was restricted, typically topping out at 45 miles per hour, and range was limited to around 40 miles before requiring recharge. These performance and range anxieties hindered widespread adoption despite the renewed interest.
The 1990s witnessed another resurgence of interest in electric vehicles, this time driven by growing environmental concerns. In the two decades since the gas shortages of the 1970s, public attention to electric vehicles had waned. 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, along with stricter transportation emissions regulations from the California Air Resources Board, spurred a renewed focus on electric vehicles in the U.S. These regulatory pressures created an environment more conducive to electric vehicle development and adoption.
During this period, automakers started adapting existing popular vehicle models into electric versions. This approach led to electric vehicles with improved speeds and performance, narrowing the gap with gasoline cars. Many of these EVs achieved a range of around 60 miles, making them more practical for daily use.
One of the most notable electric cars of this era was GM’s EV1, prominently featured in the 2006 documentary Who Killed the Electric Car? Unlike simply electrifying an existing model, GM designed and built the EV1 from the ground up as a dedicated electric vehicle. With an 80-mile range and acceleration from 0 to 50 mph in just seven seconds, the EV1 garnered a cult following. However, due to high production costs and shifting market priorities, the EV1 was ultimately discontinued in 2001, highlighting the economic challenges still facing electric vehicle commercialization.
Despite limited public attention to electric vehicles in the booming economy and low gas price environment of the late 1990s, behind the scenes, scientists and engineers, with support from the Department of Energy, continued to refine electric vehicle technology, particularly batteries. These ongoing research and development efforts were crucial for laying the foundation for the modern EV revolution.
The Modern Electric Era: A New Beginning
While the intermittent progress of the electric vehicle industry in the late 20th century showcased the technology’s potential, the true resurgence of electric cars began around the start of the 21st century. Two key events are often cited as catalysts for the current electric vehicle boom.
First, the introduction of the Toyota Prius. Launched in Japan in 1997 and globally in 2000, the Prius became the world’s first mass-produced hybrid electric vehicle. Its instant popularity, boosted by celebrity endorsements, significantly raised the profile of hybrid technology. Toyota utilized nickel-metal hydride batteries in the Prius, a technology supported by Department of Energy research. Rising gasoline prices and growing concerns about carbon emissions further propelled the Prius to become the best-selling hybrid worldwide for over a decade.
(Historical note: Before the Prius reached the U.S., Honda launched the Insight hybrid in 1999, making it the first hybrid sold in the U.S. since the early 1900s.)
Second, the 2006 announcement by Silicon Valley startup Tesla Motors that they would produce a luxury electric sports car capable of exceeding 200 miles on a single charge was transformative. In 2010, Tesla received a $465 million loan from the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office, which Tesla repaid nine years early, to establish a manufacturing facility in California. Tesla’s subsequent success and widespread acclaim for its electric cars spurred major automakers to accelerate their own EV programs.
In late 2010, the Chevy Volt and Nissan LEAF were launched in the U.S. market. The Volt, the first commercially available plug-in hybrid, combined an electric drive with a gasoline engine for extended range. The LEAF, an all-electric vehicle (or battery-electric vehicle – BEV or EV), relied solely on electric power.
Over the ensuing years, more automakers entered the electric vehicle market. Addressing a key early challenge, charging infrastructure began to expand. Through the Recovery Act, the Department of Energy invested over $115 million to build a nationwide charging network, adding over 18,000 residential, commercial, and public chargers. Automakers and private businesses also installed chargers, bringing the current public EV charger count to over 8,000 locations with more than 20,000 outlets.
Simultaneously, advancements in battery technology, supported by the Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office, improved EV range. Research also contributed to lithium-ion battery technology used in vehicles like the Volt. Department of Energy investments in battery R&D have reduced EV battery costs by 50% in just four years while enhancing battery performance (power, energy, durability). This cost reduction has made electric vehicles more affordable for consumers.
Today, consumers have unprecedented electric vehicle choices, with numerous plug-in electric and hybrid models available, from compact cars to SUVs. As gasoline prices rise and EV prices continue to become more competitive, electric vehicles are gaining popularity, with hundreds of thousands of plug-in EVs and millions of hybrids on U.S. roads.
The Road Ahead: The Electric Future
The future trajectory of electric vehicles remains dynamic, but their potential for a sustainable future is undeniable. Transitioning the U.S. light-duty vehicle fleet to hybrids or plug-in EVs using current technology could reduce foreign oil dependence by 30-60% and lower transportation sector carbon emissions by up to 20%.
To accelerate these emissions reductions, President Obama launched the EV Everywhere Grand Challenge in 2012, a Department of Energy initiative aimed at making plug-in electric vehicles as affordable as gasoline cars by 2022. The Department’s Joint Center for Energy Storage Research at Argonne National Laboratory is tackling scientific and technical barriers to large-scale battery improvements. The Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) is investing in transformative technologies, including new battery types for extended range and cost-effective alternatives for electric motor materials.
Ultimately, the future of electric vehicles will depend on continued innovation, infrastructure development, and consumer adoption. However, the long and rich history of electric cars, dating back to the early 19th century, demonstrates their enduring appeal and their crucial role in shaping the future of transportation.
