The History of Electric Vehicles

Whilst there are many myths circulating surrounding the current electric car (EV) revolution, one of the main ones is that EVs are a new invention.

We are often told that they are the future of transport, without any mention of their long history. Not only were electric vehicles first invented in the 19th century, but they were the first road vehicles to break the 100km/hour speed barrier in 1899 at a top speed of 106km/hr. 

Early Electric Vehicles 

In 1828, Hungarian engineer Anyos Jedlik developed the first electric motor used to power a small model car, but this came with a catch – it wasn’t rechargeable. EVs became a practical means of transport when in 1859, Gaston Planté invented the lead-acid battery, which allowed vehicles to store electricity safely on board. However, it wasn’t until a few decades later that Thomas Parker – who was responsible for electrifying the London Underground – manufactured the first electric car in 1884. 

At the start of the new century, technological advancements meant that cars were fast becoming a popular mode of transport, and steam, gasoline, and electric options all vied for dominance on the roads. 

Takeover by the Internal Combustion Engine 

Despite the rise of motorised transport, cost remained a significant barrier to entry for people looking to make the transition. The release of the affordable Ford Model T in 1908 resulted in a shift towards fuel-powered cars, primarily due to the fact it was cheap and available. In 1912, a gasoline car could be purchased for just $650, whereas comparable electric options demanded almost $1,750. Along with the cost, one of the main challenges was the large and heavy lead-acid batteries that significantly hindered electric vehicles performance. Demand and technological advancement waned over the next thirty years for electric vehicles as the internal combustion engine continued to improve. 

Electric Vehicles Return 

The smooth sailing for internal combustion engines started to falter in the seventies when oil prices and gasoline shortages started to increase, sparking interest in lowering society’s dependance on oil. 

EV development was revived as one of the options for alternate fuel vehicles, with General Motors developing a prototype EV. Commercially, electric vehicles were still a hard sell given their limited range and slow charging speeds, and as oil prices dropped, they took the back seat again. 

Behind the scenes, engineers steadily improved EV technology, and a significant turning point was reached when the technology shifted from early lithium-ion batteries to nickel-metal hybrid batteries that performed in more temperature ranges and reduced fire risk. This led to the release of the Toyota Prius in 1997, which became the first massed-produced hybrid. 

Electric Vehicle Revolution 

The turning point for the industry didn’t arrive until the launch of Tesla’s Roadster in 2008, which demonstrated that electric vehicles could deliver high performance and addressed the previous issue of their short driving range. 

More lithium-ion battery operated EVs began to hit the market, like the Mitsubishi i-MiEV and the Nissan Leaf, but it was Tesla that continued to push the industry forward. Their Model 3 sedan is the now top selling car world-wide, and the company has a market capitalistion of 683 billion USD. 

There are now 40 million electric vehicles on the road globally, and this number is growing exponentially each year. 

Future Trends Beyond 2024 

To reach carbon emission goals, many countries globally have pledged to ban internal combustion engine vehicles. As soon as 2025, Norway will prevent the sales of petrol and diesel-powered vehicle sales, followed by India, Israel, Sweden and India five years later. This has seen many car companies following suit, with Volvo, Honda, General Motors, and Bentley only being a handful of the auto manufacturers committing to exclusively producing only electric and hybrid options by 2030. 

If you have any questions about electric vehicle charging, reach out to our friendly sales team at sayhi@evos.com.au