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While many believe that the electric car is a fairly new invention, the electric vehicle, or EV, has been around for two centuries. The first EVs date back to the 1830s. Many different models were built across Europe and America. Several versions were made as the battery improved. By the late 1880s, the UK and France supported major development of electric vehicles. Camille Genatzi of Belgium invented the fastest EV, which ran at a speed of 100 kmph. Switzerland, which lacked the natural fossil resources of other countries, also favored electrification on its railway system, reducing its dependence on foreign resources and helping to advance the technology even further.
In America, the first electric car was not developed until the late 1800s. The first EV of note was a wagon that carried six passengers. William Morrison and AL Raiker designed this vehicle, and it is considered the first practical electric vehicle. Innovations in electric cars grew rapidly in the early 1900s. By the turn of the century, America was greatly affluent, and automobiles of all types were becoming more popular. The first hybrid electric motor/combustion engine was built in 1916. These vehicles had an advantage over their competitors for a number of reasons. They were less noisy, and did not have the odor and vibration associated with GAAR-powered vehicles.
EVs were very successful in America in the 1920s. However, by the late 1920s and early 1930s, gasoline had begun to dominate the market. With the discovery of crude oil in Oklahoma and Texas and the development of better road infrastructure in the US, gas-powered automobiles became more affordable and popular. They could also now travel farther and faster than their competitors. By the late 1930s, American electric cars had practically disappeared.
By the 1960s and 70s, the notion of alternative fueled vehicles and foreign oil independence became more known, but not much was available on the market until the 1990s. With the US government passing the Clean Air Act, some major automobile manufacturers started announcing that they would introduce some electric models in their lineup. Since the early 2000s, interest in electric and hybrid cars has increased. Vehicle manufacturers are slowly moving away from fuel-efficient vehicles.
Since the late first decade of the 2000s, more manufacturers have been introducing fully electric cars. Due to the increase in the price of gasoline and the growing awareness of the importance of environmental consciousness, EVs have become ever more popular, and it is likely that they will become even more popular in the near future.
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