Here’s How Far Electric Cars Have Come Over the Years
Once a rarity, electric cars are becoming increasingly common on American roads. You’ve probably spotted a swanky Tesla equipped with a plethora of features the world couldn’t dream of a few decades ago. In fact, nearly 1.8 million EVs were registered in the US in the year 2020, and this number is projected to grow rapidly.
Tesla’s cult following is well deserved, but electric vehicles had a humble beginning, which was a far cry from the luxury electric cars on the road today.
In the 1830s, horseback and buggies were the primary modes of transportation. Around the same time, Robert Anderson invented the first crude electrical vehicle. This electric carriage had a strapped battery and motor, which promptly eliminated the need for horses to propel the vehicle. In addition to being a groundbreaking invention that inspired the future of electric vehicles, this electric carriage was also environmentally-friendly compared to gasoline-powered vehicles.
Nearly six decades later, William Morrison created a successful electric vehicle in the US. This self-powered wagon paved the way for the electric and hybrid vehicles of the 21st century.
Soon electric vehicles started gaining popularity. This can be credited to the fact that these vehicles created far less noise and pollution compared to gas and steam automobiles. Moreover, electric cars were also a lot easier to drive.
That being said, the popularity declined as electric vehicles were costly and offered low speed as well as short-range. With the turn of the century, the concern for the environment reignited the interest in electric vehicles.
The demand for electric cars flourished in the 20th century. In fact, nearly a third of vehicles on US roads were electric at the time. In 1901, Ferdinand Porsche combined the best of electric and gas to create the world’s first hybrid vehicle. The Lohner–Porsche Mixed Hybrid was powered by a gasoline-engine generator and batteries.
1920 again saw the decline of electric vehicles. With the easy availability of cheap crude oil, running a gas-powered vehicle was the economical option. This surged the popularity of gas-powered automobiles over electric vehicles. This continued for the next three decades.
However, gas prices started to inflate in the 1960s and 1970s significantly. And this again revived the demand for electric vehicles. The resurgence of interest in electric vehicles encouraged manufacturers around the globe to devise renewable fuel automobiles.
A few years later, Sebring-Vanguard launched CitiCar. The popularity of the wedge-shaped electric vehicle skyrocketed by 1975.
The cycle of the rise and fall of electric cars continued over the next few years. In 1997, Toyota released the first mass-produced hybrid car, the Prius. Since then, several major automakers have jumped on board and launched a wide range of electric and hybrid vehicles.
People new to the world of electric and hybrid cars may wonder if the driving laws are any different for such cars. The short answer is no. Whether you drive a Toyota Prius or Tesla Model S, you are expected to follow every traffic law applicable to other vehicles on the road. Moreover, you cannot blame reckless driving on your car’s autopilot mode. Even if your car is self-driving, you, as the driver, are solely responsible for the way the vehicle behaves. Instead of using this futile argument, use The Winit app to fight unfair traffic and parking tickets.
The repercussions of climate change are becoming more apparent every day. Now more than ever, it’s crucial to adopt environmentally-friendly lifestyle changes. And driving an electric or hybrid vehicle can be one such choice. Even if you have a tight budget, you can consider affordable EV models offered by Nissan, Mini Cooper and Chevrolet.
