It was so early when the first electric vehicle (EV) hit the road that its competition was not with petrol or diesel cars but… horses!
The 19th Century is the period we are talking about, when the main mode of transportation was horses. And, at that time, both EVs and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles were evolving.
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| An electric car built by an English inventor in 1884. |
These vehicles were slowly and steadily mechanising transportation and there was no looking back for these mechanised cars.
During the turn of the century, experts from around the world, such as renowned scientist Thomas Edison, were developing battery-powered cars.
Circa 1832: Robert Anderson develops the first crude electric vehicle, but it was only after the 1870s that electric cars found practical use.
You would be surprised to know that the early electric cars became highly popular, especially in big cities, owing to their silent mode of operation as well as because they did not belt out harmful exhaust fumes.
Other persons who jumped on to the development of battery-powered cars include Camille Faure, who gave a boost to the design of the lead acid battery, which was conceptualised by Gaston Planté.
Then there was Robert Anderson, who gave birth to the first crude electric carriage as well as Ferdinand Porsche, who designed the first EV having an octagonal electric motor.
In the next 10 years, electric cars from different manufacturers hit the road in the US and their popularity soared. It will be difficult to believe, but by then, New York City had a fleet of over 60 electric taxis!
During 1900, EVs comprised 30 per cent of all vehicles plying on the road. In the coming years, electric models continued to show strong sales.
Circa 1900: It was the first time when an electric vehicle surged past the 100 km/hour mark. It was the Belgian EV La Jamais Contente.
So, how did electric cars charge then? In early 1900, cables were mounted on walls of the charging stations and plugged directly into the car.
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| Belgian car La Jamais Contente was the first electric vehicle to travel at 100 km an hour. |
The cars zoomed away after full charge. Another popular way to fast charge was battery swapping.
It was the Ford Model T that led to the downfall of electric vehicles. The Model T was an affordable vehicle and even its accessibility was great, leading to the ICE car becoming hugely popular.
At that time, $650 would have got you a gasoline car while an electric vehicle carried a price tag of a whopping $1,750.
The accessibility and affordability of ICE vehicles were growing steadily and EVs were slowly becoming redundant. And, by the 1930s, it was the end of the road for electric vehicles.
However, in the late 1960s, as gas prices began to surge, people became interested in alternative fuel cars again.
At that time, the first manned motor vehicle to drive on the moon was a battery-powered one. This excited the people even more to opt for electric cars.
Carmakers tried to cash in on this renewed interest in EVs and a few electric cars were rolled out in the 1970s as well as the 1980s.
Notable among them was the Sebring-Vanguard Citicar that sold 2,000 units. But after this, interest in EVs once again faded.
E-Vroooom views
Taking a peek into the earliest electric vehicles, one can only say that these cars have become the epitome of EV manufacturers today.
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