when was the first electric car made

It might feel like electric vehicles are a modern invention, a recent answer to our environmental concerns. But if you were to take a guess about the very first one, you’d probably be surprised by how far back its story goes. The history of electric transportation is a fascinating tale of early innovation, fierce competition, and a long period of quiet before a dramatic comeback. So, when was the first electric car made? The answer takes us back to a time before the internal combustion engine even ruled the road.

The surprising answer to ‘when was the first electric car made’

The birth of the electric car happened much earlier than most people realize. In the 1820s and 1830s, inventors in Hungary, the Netherlands, and the United States were already creating small-scale electric vehicles. However, the first practical electric car is often credited to English inventor Thomas Parker. In 1884, Parker, who was concerned about the smog in London, built a revolutionary electric carriage that used his own specially designed high-capacity rechargeable batteries. This was a full four years before Karl Benz patented his famous gasoline-powered Motorwagen, placing electric vehicles at the forefront of automotive history.

A glimpse into the golden age of electric vehicles

By the turn of the 20th century, electric cars were a common sight, especially in American cities. They were quiet, clean, and easy to start, unlike their noisy, hand-cranked gasoline counterparts which were often seen as unreliable and smelly. They became a popular choice for urban drivers, particularly wealthy women who appreciated their simplicity and lack of vibration. In fact, electric vehicles held a significant share of the market, competing directly with steam and gasoline power. For a short while, they were even setting land speed records!

Why did the electric car disappear for so long?

So, what happened? Several factors led to the decline of the early electric car. The discovery of vast crude oil reserves made gasoline cheap and readily available. Meanwhile, Henry Ford’s mass production of the Model T made gasoline cars affordable for the average family, a price point early electric cars couldn’t match. Furthermore, the development of the electric starter eliminated the difficult hand crank, making gas cars more convenient. With limited range and a lack of charging infrastructure outside cities, the electric car slowly faded from view, becoming a niche product for decades.

The long road back to relevance

The journey back for the electric car was a slow one, spurred by environmental movements and oil crises in the late 20th century. It took advances in battery technology, particularly the lithium-ion battery, to make modern EVs a practical reality. Today’s electric vehicles are the direct descendants of those early pioneers, finally fulfilling their promise of clean, efficient transportation on a global scale.

It’s a wonderful piece of historical irony that the technology we see as the future of driving has roots stretching back nearly 140 years. The story of the electric car is a powerful reminder that great ideas often just need the right moment in time to truly shine.