Introduced over a century ago, electric cars are experiencing a resurgence in popularity today, echoing many of the reasons for their initial appeal. As prices become more accessible and consumers seek to reduce fuel costs, the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) – whether hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or all-electric – is projected to surge. Currently representing over 3% of new vehicle sales, EVs are estimated to potentially reach nearly 7%, or 6.6 million vehicles annually worldwide by 2020, according to a Navigant Research report.
Given this growing interest, we’re taking a journey back in time to explore the fascinating history of Early Electric Cars and trace their evolution to the present day.
The Genesis of Electric Vehicles: 19th Century Innovation
Attributing the invention of the electric car to a single individual or nation is challenging. Instead, it was the culmination of several groundbreaking advancements in the 1800s – from battery technology to the electric motor – that paved the way for the first electric vehicles to grace the roads.
During the early 19th century, innovators across Hungary, the Netherlands, and the United States, including a Vermont blacksmith, began experimenting with the concept of battery-powered vehicles. They crafted some of the earliest rudimentary electric cars. While Robert Anderson, a British inventor, developed a primitive electric carriage around the same period, it was in the latter half of the 19th century that French and English inventors engineered some of the first genuinely practical early electric cars.
In the United States, the first successful early electric car debuted around 1890, the brainchild of 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. Yet, it played a pivotal role in igniting public interest in electric vehicles and demonstrated the potential of early electric cars.
Over the subsequent years, electric vehicles from various pioneering automakers began to emerge across the U.S. New York City even boasted a fleet of over 60 electric taxis, showcasing the practicality of early electric cars in urban settings. By 1900, early electric cars had reached their zenith, accounting for approximately one-third of all vehicles on American roads. Their robust sales continued throughout the following decade, cementing their place in automotive history.
The Dawn of the Automotive Era: Electric Cars Shine Bright
To truly grasp the initial prominence of early electric cars around 1900, it’s crucial to understand the broader context of personal vehicle development and the available alternatives. At the turn of the 20th century, the horse remained the primary mode of transportation. However, as affluence grew, Americans increasingly turned to the newly invented motor vehicle for personal transport. These early motor vehicles came in three primary forms: steam-powered, gasoline-powered, and electric.
Steam power was a well-established and reliable energy source, proven in factories and trains. Indeed, some of the earliest self-propelled vehicles in the late 1700s relied on steam. However, it took until the 1870s for steam technology to become viable in cars. Steam vehicles presented significant drawbacks for personal use. They required lengthy start-up times, sometimes as long as 45 minutes in cold weather, and needed frequent water refills, limiting their operational range.
Simultaneously with the advent of early electric cars, gasoline-powered cars emerged, spurred by advancements in internal combustion engine technology during the 1800s. While gasoline cars showed promise, they were not without their own set of challenges. Operating them demanded considerable manual effort – gear changes were cumbersome, and starting the engine required a hand crank, making them difficult for some individuals to manage. Furthermore, they were noisy and produced unpleasant exhaust fumes.
Early electric cars elegantly sidestepped the issues inherent in both steam and gasoline vehicles. They were remarkably quiet, effortlessly drivable, and emitted no noxious pollutants, unlike their contemporaries. Early electric cars rapidly gained favor among urban dwellers, particularly women. They were ideally suited for short urban commutes, and the poor road conditions prevalent outside of cities limited the practicality of longer journeys for all types of cars. As electricity access expanded in the 1910s, charging early electric cars became increasingly convenient, further boosting their appeal across various segments of society. Notably, even some of the “best known and prominent makers of gasoline cars” recognized the potential of early electric cars, as highlighted in a 1911 New York Times article.
Many innovators of the era recognized the high demand for early electric vehicles and actively explored ways to refine the technology. Ferdinand Porsche, the founder of the renowned sports car company, developed an electric car named the P1 in 1898. Around the same time, he also pioneered the world’s first hybrid electric car – a vehicle powered by both electricity and a gasoline engine, demonstrating forward-thinking concepts in early electric car development. Thomas Edison, a staunch advocate for early electric cars, believed they represented the superior automotive technology and dedicated efforts to developing improved electric vehicle batteries. Even Henry Ford, a friend of Edison, collaborated with him in 1914 to explore options for creating a cost-effective early electric car, as reported by Wired](http://www.wired.com/2010/06/henry-ford-thomas-edison-ev/).
The Setback: How Gasoline Gained Dominance Over Early Electric Cars
However, it was Henry Ford’s revolutionary mass-produced Model T that ultimately dealt a significant blow to the early electric car movement. Introduced in 1908, the Model T made gasoline-powered cars broadly accessible and remarkably affordable. By 1912, the price of a gasoline car plummeted to just $650, whereas 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 and contributing to the decline of early electric cars.
Other factors further contributed to the diminishing popularity of early electric cars. The 1920s witnessed the development of improved road networks in the U.S., connecting cities and fueling Americans’ desire for long-distance travel. The discovery of abundant and inexpensive Texas crude oil made gasoline readily available even in rural areas, and gas stations began proliferating across the country. In stark contrast, electricity infrastructure remained largely confined to urban centers during this period. Consequently, by 1935, early electric vehicles had virtually disappeared from the automotive landscape, overshadowed by the rise of gasoline-powered vehicles.
Resurgence Attempts: Gas Crises and Fleeting Interest in Electric Cars
For approximately three decades following their initial decline, electric vehicles entered a period of stagnation, with minimal technological progress. The combination of cheap, plentiful gasoline and continuous improvements in internal combustion engine technology dampened demand for alternative fuel vehicles, including electric cars.
The late 1960s and early 1970s, however, witnessed a shift. Soaring oil prices and gasoline shortages, reaching a critical point with the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo, sparked renewed interest in reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil and exploring domestic fuel sources. Responding to this urgency, Congress enacted the Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1976, empowering the Department of Energy to support research and development in both electric and hybrid vehicles.
Around this time, numerous automakers, both major and smaller companies, began investigating alternative fuel vehicle options, including electric cars. For instance, General Motors developed a prototype urban electric car, showcased 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 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, demonstrating the capability of electric vehicles in demanding environments.
Despite these efforts, the electric vehicles developed during the 1970s still suffered from performance limitations compared to gasoline-powered cars. Electric vehicles of this era typically had restricted top speeds, often around 45 miles per hour, and limited ranges, usually around 40 miles before requiring recharging. These limitations hindered their widespread adoption and long-term viability as replacements for conventional gasoline vehicles.
Environmental Awakening: A New Era for Electric Cars
Fast forward 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 landscape. The passage of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendment and the 1992 Energy Policy Act, coupled with the California Air Resources Board’s introduction of stringent transportation emissions regulations, fostered a resurgence of interest in electric vehicles in the U.S., setting the stage for the modern electric car era.
During this period, automakers started adapting some of their popular existing vehicle models into electric versions. This adaptation led to electric vehicles achieving performance levels much closer to their gasoline counterparts, with many offering ranges of around 60 miles.
One of the most iconic electric cars of this era was GM’s EV1, prominently featured in the 2006 documentary Who Killed the Electric Car? Instead of modifying an existing model, GM undertook a ground-up design and development of the EV1. With an impressive range of 80 miles and acceleration from 0 to 50 miles per hour in a mere seven seconds, the EV1 quickly garnered a dedicated following. However, due to high production costs, the EV1 never achieved commercial viability and was discontinued by GM in 2001.
Amidst a booming economy, a growing middle class, and low gasoline prices in the late 1990s, fuel efficiency was not a primary concern for many consumers. Although electric vehicles did not receive significant public attention during this time, behind the scenes, scientists and engineers, with support from the Department of Energy, continued to work diligently on enhancing electric vehicle technology, particularly battery technology. These ongoing efforts laid the groundwork for the significant advancements that would propel electric cars into the mainstream in the 21st century.
A Modern Renaissance: Electric Cars Re-emerge as Leaders
While the intermittent progress of the electric vehicle industry in the latter half of the 20th century demonstrated the technology’s underlying promise, the true revitalization of electric cars did not commence until the dawn of the 21st century. Depending on perspective, either of two key events can be credited with sparking the contemporary interest in electric vehicles that we witness today.
Many observers point to the introduction of the Toyota Prius as the first pivotal moment. Launched in Japan in 1997, the Prius became the world’s first mass-produced hybrid electric vehicle. In 2000, the Prius debuted globally and quickly became a sensation, particularly among celebrities, significantly elevating the vehicle’s profile and mainstream appeal. Toyota leveraged nickel metal hydride battery technology, supported by Department of Energy research, to bring the Prius to fruition. Since then, escalating gasoline prices and growing concerns about carbon emissions have propelled the Prius to become the best-selling hybrid vehicle worldwide over the past decade.
(Historical note: Before the Prius could reach the U.S. market, Honda introduced the Insight hybrid in 1999, making it the first hybrid vehicle sold in the U.S. since the early 1900s, marking a subtle but important milestone in the hybrid and electric vehicle journey).
The second transformative event was the 2006 announcement by Tesla Motors, a nascent Silicon Valley startup, about their plans to produce a luxury electric sports car capable of exceeding 200 miles on a single charge. In 2010, Tesla secured a $465 million loan from the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office – a loan Tesla repaid a remarkable nine years ahead of schedule](/articles/moniz-tesla-repayment-shows-strength-energy-departments-overall-loan-portfolio) – to establish a manufacturing facility in California. In the relatively short time 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 spurred many established 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 while having the gasoline engine for extended range. In contrast, the LEAF is an all-electric vehicle (also known as a battery-electric vehicle or simply EV), operating solely on electric power.
Over the ensuing years, more automakers introduced electric vehicles in the U.S. market. However, consumers still faced a persistent challenge reminiscent of the early electric car era – the availability of convenient charging infrastructure for on-the-go charging. Through the Recovery Act, the Department of Energy invested over $115 million to support the development of a nationwide charging infrastructure, facilitating the installation of more than 18,000 residential, commercial, and public chargers across the country. Automakers and other private enterprises also established their own charging networks at strategic locations in the U.S., bringing the current total of public electric vehicle charging locations to over 8,000, with more than 20,000 charging outlets.
Concurrently, advancements in battery technology, supported by the Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office, began to reach the market, extending the driving range of plug-in electric vehicles. In addition to 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 investment in battery research and development has helped reduce electric vehicle battery costs by 50 percent in the last four years, while simultaneously enhancing battery performance, including power, energy, and durability. This cost reduction, coupled with performance improvements, has made electric vehicles more accessible and appealing to consumers.
Today, consumers enjoy an unprecedented array of choices when considering an electric vehicle. Currently, 23 plug-in electric and 36 hybrid models are available in diverse sizes, from the compact two-passenger Smart ED to the mid-sized Ford C-Max Energi and the BMW i3 luxury SUV. As gasoline prices continue to rise and electric vehicle prices become increasingly competitive, electric vehicles are gaining momentum in popularity, with over 234,000 plug-in electric vehicles and 3.3 million hybrids currently on U.S. roads.
Charting the Course: The Future Trajectory of Electric Cars
Predicting the precise future of electric vehicles remains uncertain, but their potential to contribute to a more sustainable future is undeniable. If the entire light-duty vehicle fleet in the U.S. transitioned to hybrid or plug-in electric vehicles utilizing current technology, dependence on foreign oil could be reduced by 30-60 percent, while carbon emissions from the transportation sector could decrease by as much as 20 percent.
To facilitate these emission 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 primary scientific and technical obstacles hindering large-scale battery improvements.
Furthermore, the Department’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) is driving innovation in game-changing technologies that could fundamentally reshape our perception of electric vehicles. From investments in novel battery types capable of achieving greater range on a single charge to cost-effective alternatives to critical electric motor materials, ARPA-E’s projects have the potential to revolutionize electric vehicle technology.
Ultimately, the future trajectory of electric vehicles remains to be fully determined. However, the journey of early electric cars and their modern counterparts showcases a compelling narrative of innovation, setbacks, and resurgence, pointing towards a potentially transformative role for electric mobility in the years to come.
