Think electric vehicles are a 21st century fad? Nope! EVs have a long history, spanning nearly two centuries.
The Surprisingly Long History of Electric Cars – Daniel Sperling and Gil Tal
For years, early electric vehicles shared the road with horse- and steam-powered carriages before gasoline-powered cars came along. They grew in popularity as advances in battery technology and the increasing availability of electricity made them easier to drive.
The widespread availability of cheap gasoline in the early 20th century helped push electric vehicles out of the public consciousness, but various automakers continued to work on related technology over the years. Thanks to further advances in battery technology and a push to reduce vehicle emissions, the modern electric vehicle was poised to reemerge around the turn of the 21st century.
Electric vehicles have come a long and winding road over the past two centuries. It is difficult to pinpoint exactly where the history of electric vehicles begins, but the basic idea appeared right alongside the first electric motors.
