who made the first electric car

When you picture an electric car, you likely imagine a sleek, modern vehicle humming quietly down the street. It might surprise you to learn that the idea is far from new. In fact, the story of battery-powered vehicles begins not in the 21st century, but in the 19th. Long before gasoline engines dominated the roads, inventors were experimenting with electricity as a clean and quiet alternative, leaving many to wonder exactly who made the first electric car.

The Early Pioneers of Electric Mobility

The title of “first” isn’t always straightforward, as several inventors made crucial contributions around the same time. In the 1830s, Scottish inventor Robert Anderson created a crude but functional electric carriage. Around the same period, in the Netherlands, Sibrandus Stratingh designed a small-scale electric cart. These early models were essentially prototypes, powered by non-rechargeable batteries. The real breakthrough came with the invention of the rechargeable lead-acid battery by Gaston Planté in 1859, which provided a much more practical power source for vehicles.

Who made the first electric car that was practical?

While the early pioneers laid the groundwork, credit for a more practical and successful electric car often goes to English inventor Thomas Parker. In 1884, Parker, who was deeply involved in electrifying the London Underground, built a production electric car in London. He used his own specially designed high-capacity rechargeable batteries, creating a vehicle that was genuinely usable for its time. Across the pond, in the United States, William Morrison of Des Moines, Iowa, is frequently credited with building the first successful electric car around 1890. His six-passenger wagon could reach a top speed of 14 miles per hour and helped spark widespread interest in electric vehicles in America.

Why the Electric Car’s Early Success Faded

For a brief period around 1900, electric cars were incredibly popular. They were quiet, easy to start, and didn’t have the smell and vibration of gasoline or steam cars. They became a common sight in cities, particularly favored by wealthy urban drivers. However, their reign was short-lived. The mass production of the gasoline-powered Model T by Henry Ford made internal combustion engine cars dramatically more affordable. Furthermore, the development of better road systems encouraged longer trips, a feat that early electric cars with their limited range couldn’t manage. With the invention of the electric starter for gasoline cars, which eliminated the difficult hand-crank, the final major drawback of the internal combustion engine was solved.

So, while we celebrate the innovators of today, it’s fascinating to look back and see that the vision for an electric future has been over a century in the making. The early work of inventors like Parker and Morrison paved the way, proving that clean, quiet transportation was always a compelling idea.