Electric cars, enjoying a resurgence in popularity today, actually boast a history stretching back over a century. The very factors driving their modern appeal – efficiency, reduced emissions, and quieter operation – were also key to their initial rise in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As we witness a growing demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and all-electric forms, driven by falling prices and a desire for fuel economy, it’s fascinating to delve into the origins of this technology and explore the world of the Earliest Electric Car. Industry analysts predict a continued surge in EV sales, potentially reaching nearly 7% of global new vehicle sales by 2020. This renewed interest prompts us to take a historical journey, tracing the path of electric vehicles from their inception to their promising future.
The Genesis of Electric Mobility: Tracing the Earliest Electric Car
Attributing the invention of the electric car to a single individual or nation proves challenging. Instead, the story of the earliest electric car is one of incremental innovation throughout the 1800s, fueled by breakthroughs in battery technology and electric motor design.
In the early decades of the 19th century, pioneering inventors across Hungary, the Netherlands, and the United States, including a Vermont blacksmith, began experimenting with battery-powered vehicles. These early endeavors resulted in some of the first rudimentary electric cars, albeit on a small scale. While Robert Anderson, a British inventor, is credited with developing a primitive electric carriage around this period, it was the latter half of the 19th century that saw French and English inventors craft some of the first truly practical electric cars.
The United States witnessed its first successful electric car debut around 1890, thanks to William Morrison, a chemist residing in Des Moines, Iowa. His 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 invention ignited significant public interest in electric vehicles.
Alt text: Replica of William Morrison’s earliest electric car displayed at the 2019 Electric Vehicle Symposium, showcasing early electric vehicle design.
In the ensuing years, various automakers began introducing electric vehicles across the U.S. New York City even established a fleet of over 60 electric taxis. By 1900, electric cars had reached their zenith, representing approximately one-third of all vehicles on American roads. Their popularity and strong sales continued into the following decade.
The Initial Ascent and Subsequent Decline of the Electric Car
To truly grasp the widespread appeal of electric vehicles around 1900, it’s crucial to consider the broader context of personal transportation development and the alternative options available at the time. At the dawn of the 20th century, the horse remained the primary mode of transportation. However, as prosperity grew in America, individuals increasingly turned to newly invented motor vehicles – available in steam, gasoline, or electric configurations – for personal mobility.
Steam power was a well-established energy source, proven reliable for powering factories and trains. Early self-propelled vehicles in the late 1700s utilized steam. However, steam technology didn’t gain traction in cars until the 1870s, partly due to its impracticality for personal vehicles. Steam cars required lengthy startup times, sometimes as long as 45 minutes in cold weather, and needed frequent water refills, limiting their driving range.
Simultaneously with the emergence of electric cars, gasoline-powered vehicles entered the market, propelled by advancements in internal combustion engine technology during the 1800s. While gasoline cars showed promise, they also had drawbacks. Operating them demanded considerable manual effort – gear changes were cumbersome, and starting the engine required a hand crank, making them challenging for some drivers. Furthermore, they were noisy and produced unpleasant exhaust fumes.
Electric cars sidestepped the issues associated with both steam and gasoline vehicles. They were quiet, easy to operate, and produced no odorous pollutants, unlike their contemporaries. Electric cars rapidly gained favor among urban dwellers, particularly women. They were ideally suited for short urban trips, and the poor road conditions prevalent outside of cities limited the viability of any type of car for longer journeys. As electricity access expanded in the 1910s, charging electric cars became more convenient, further boosting their appeal across various demographics, even attracting the attention of “best known and prominent makers of gasoline cars,” as noted in a 1911 New York Times article.
The high demand for electric vehicles spurred numerous innovators to explore ways to enhance the technology. Ferdinand Porsche, founder of the renowned 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 – a vehicle powered by both electricity and a gasoline engine. Thomas Edison, a prolific inventor, championed electric vehicles as the superior technology and dedicated efforts to developing improved electric car batteries. Even Henry Ford, a friend of Edison, collaborated with him to explore options for a low-cost electric car in 1914, as reported by Wired.
Alt text: Ferdinand Porsche’s 1898 Egger-Lohner electric vehicle P1, an example of early electric car innovation from a pioneering automotive engineer.
However, it was Henry Ford’s mass-produced Model T that dealt a significant blow to the electric car’s dominance. Introduced in 1908, the Model T made gasoline-powered cars widely accessible and affordable. By 1912, a gasoline car cost only $650, while an electric roadster sold for $1,750. In the same year, Charles Kettering introduced the electric starter, eliminating the need for the hand crank and further propelling gasoline vehicle sales.
Other factors also contributed to the decline of electric vehicles. By the 1920s, the U.S. had developed a better road network connecting cities, and Americans increasingly desired to explore beyond urban limits. The discovery of Texas crude oil led to cheap and readily available gasoline for rural populations, and gas stations began proliferating across the country. In contrast, electricity access outside of cities remained limited at that time. Consequently, electric vehicles virtually vanished by 1935.
Gas Shortages Ignite Renewed Interest in Electric Vehicles
For approximately three decades, electric vehicles entered a period of stagnation, with minimal technological advancement. Cheap, abundant gasoline and continuous improvements in internal combustion engines suppressed demand for alternative fuel vehicles.
However, the late 1960s and early 1970s witnessed a resurgence of interest. Surging oil prices and gasoline shortages, culminating in the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo, fueled a growing concern about U.S. dependence on foreign oil and a desire to find domestic fuel sources. Congress responded by passing the Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1976, authorizing the Energy Department to support research and development in electric and hybrid vehicles.
During this period, both major and smaller automakers began exploring alternative fuel vehicle options, including electric cars. General Motors, for instance, 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, which the United States Postal Service tested in a 1975 pilot program. Even NASA contributed to raising the profile of electric vehicles when its electric Lunar rover became the first manned vehicle to traverse the moon in 1971.
Despite these efforts, the electric vehicles developed in the 1970s still faced limitations compared to gasoline cars. They exhibited restricted performance, typically with top speeds around 45 miles per hour, and their range was generally limited to 40 miles before requiring recharging.
Environmental Concerns Propel Electric Vehicles Forward
Another shift in momentum occurred in the 1990s. In the two decades following the gas crises of the 1970s, interest in electric vehicles had largely waned. However, new federal and state regulations began to reshape the landscape. The passage of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendment and the 1992 Energy Policy Act, along with new transportation emissions regulations from the California Air Resources Board, spurred renewed interest in electric vehicles within the U.S.
Automakers during this era started adapting some of their existing vehicle models into electric versions. This resulted in electric vehicles achieving speeds and performance levels much closer to gasoline counterparts, with many offering a range of around 60 miles.
One of the most prominent electric cars of this period was GM’s EV1, famously featured in the 2006 documentary Who Killed the Electric Car? Rather than modifying an existing model, GM designed and developed the EV1 from the ground up. Boasting an 80-mile range and acceleration from 0 to 50 miles per hour in just seven seconds, the EV1 quickly garnered a dedicated following. However, due to high production costs, the EV1 never achieved commercial viability, and GM discontinued it in 2001.
With a booming economy, a growing middle class, and low gasoline prices in the late 1990s, many consumers prioritized factors other than fuel efficiency. While public attention to electric vehicles remained limited, behind the scenes, scientists and engineers, supported by the Energy Department, continued to work on improving electric vehicle technology, particularly batteries.
A New Dawn for Electric Cars
While the intermittent advancements and setbacks in the electric vehicle industry during the latter half of the 20th century highlighted the technology’s potential, the true resurgence of the electric car began around the start of the 21st century. Depending on perspective, either of two key events ignited the contemporary interest in electric vehicles.
The introduction of the Toyota Prius is often cited as a pivotal turning point. Launched in Japan in 1997, the Prius became the world’s first mass-produced hybrid electric vehicle. Its global release in 2000, coupled with endorsements from celebrities, propelled the Prius to instant success and significantly raised the profile of hybrid technology. Toyota’s realization of the Prius relied on nickel metal hydride batteries, a technology supported by Energy Department research. Subsequently, rising gasoline prices and growing concerns about carbon emissions have made the Prius the best-selling hybrid worldwide for over a decade.
(Historical note: Before the Prius reached the U.S. market, Honda launched the Insight hybrid in 1999, marking the first hybrid sold in the U.S. since the early 1900s.)
The second transformative event was the 2006 announcement by Tesla Motors, a nascent Silicon Valley startup, about its plans 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 nine years ahead of schedule – to establish a manufacturing facility in California. In a short time, Tesla has earned widespread acclaim for its vehicles and become the largest auto industry employer in California.
Tesla’s announcement and subsequent success spurred major automakers to accelerate their own electric vehicle programs. In late 2010, the Chevy Volt and the Nissan LEAF were launched in the U.S. market. The Volt, the first commercially available plug-in hybrid, features a gasoline engine to supplement its electric drive once the battery is depleted, allowing drivers to utilize electric power for most trips and gasoline for extended range. In contrast, the LEAF is an all-electric vehicle (or battery-electric vehicle, EV), powered solely by an electric motor.
Over the following years, other automakers introduced electric vehicles in the U.S. market. However, consumers still faced a challenge reminiscent of the earliest electric car era – charging infrastructure. Through the Recovery Act, the Energy Department invested over $115 million to support the development of a nationwide charging infrastructure, installing more than 18,000 chargers for residential, commercial, and public use across the country. Automakers and private businesses also established their own charging stations at key locations, bringing the total of public electric vehicle chargers to over 8,000 locations with more than 20,000 outlets today.
Concurrently, advancements in battery technology, supported by the Energy Department’s Vehicle Technologies Office, began to reach the market, improving the range of plug-in electric vehicles. In addition to battery technology in first-generation hybrids, Department research also contributed to the development of lithium-ion battery technology used in the Volt. More recently, the Department’s investment in battery research and development has facilitated a 50% reduction in electric vehicle battery costs in the past four years, while simultaneously enhancing battery performance (power, energy, and durability). This cost reduction has made electric vehicles more accessible to consumers.
Consumers now have unprecedented choices in the electric vehicle market. Currently, 23 plug-in electric and 36 hybrid models are available in various sizes, ranging from the two-passenger Smart ED to the midsize Ford C-Max Energi to the BMW i3 luxury SUV. As gasoline prices continue to rise and electric vehicle prices decline, electric vehicles are gaining momentum, with over 234,000 plug-in electric vehicles and 3.3 million hybrids currently on U.S. roads.
The Trajectory of Electric Cars: Looking Ahead
Predicting the precise future of electric vehicles remains uncertain, but their potential to contribute to a more sustainable future is undeniable. Transitioning all light-duty vehicles in the U.S. to hybrids or plug-in electric vehicles, using current technology, could reduce dependence on foreign oil by 30-60% and decrease carbon emissions from the transportation sector by up to 20%.
To facilitate these emissions reductions, President Obama launched the EV Everywhere Grand Challenge in 2012 – an Energy Department initiative uniting leading American scientists, engineers, and businesses to make plug-in electric vehicles as affordable as gasoline-powered vehicles by 2022. On the battery technology front, the Department’s Joint Center for Energy Storage Research at Argonne National Laboratory is working to overcome major scientific and technical obstacles hindering large-scale battery improvements.
Furthermore, the Department’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) is advancing transformative technologies that could revolutionize electric vehicles. From investments in new battery types promising extended range to cost-effective alternatives for materials crucial to electric motors, ARPA-E’s projects have the potential to reshape the future of electric mobility.
Ultimately, the future path of electric vehicles will unfold over time. However, their enduring history, from the earliest electric car prototypes to today’s sophisticated models, suggests a continued and significant role in the evolution of transportation.
