Most people think that electric vehicles are only a modern invention used in the 20th century, but you will be surprised to hear the history that EVs were invented in the 18th century. However, their low top speed, short range, and high cost precluded EV sales and popularity.
The proper use of the EV has begun during the 19th century, but the ICE vehicle makes its way to the customers, leading to the decline of EV use. Electric vehicles have been around since the 18th century, but they have a very twisted history; EVs were primarily abandoned when gasoline-powered vehicles dominated the market in the 1930s.
The 21st century remained super lucky for EVs; their market growth has hit its peak in recent years. The EV market started to rise in 2010 and achieved its highest sales by 2022.
The combined sales of the all-electric vehicle and utility vans score one million recorded from 2010-to 2016; at the end of 2019, 4.9 million electric vehicles were in use. By 2020, the sales of light-duty plug-in electric vehicles will reach 10 million units.
History of EVs Sales Milestones
Global Ratio of Electric Vehicles and Plug-in Hybrid Annual Sales is
The first commercially viable electric vehicle was produced in 1990, but interest has dropped significantly in recent years. Let’s take a look at some of the critical milestones and facts about electric vehicles over the past 200 years.
Electric Vehicles are not a new idea. They were in vogue at the turn of the 20th century.
The first electric vehicle was built in 1828 by Scotsman Robert Anderson; it was a crude electric carriage. It was called “”the first modern electric vehicle. “”In 1890, an English inventor named Frederick William Troller introduced his invention: a battery-powered tricycle that could cover up to 25 miles on one charge, a distance that most people would need to make it from home to work and back again.
However, Troller’s invention did not catch on with consumers at this time because there were no charging stations or other infrastructure for recharging batteries on public roads. People were used to horses pulling their carriages around town and didn’t see any need for an alternative mode of transportation.
History of The First Vehicle
The first electric vehicle built by a manufacturer was created in 1828. It was a carriage that could carry 4 people and was powered by a battery charged by a hand crank. It could travel up to 12 miles on a single charge. In the early 1900s, more than 30,000 electric vehicles were registered in the United States.
However, by 1910 their popularity was waning. By 1920 a significant increase in the number of electric vehicles had been registered. In 1940 their popularity was beginning to decline again. By 1960 there were fewer than 5,000 electric vehicles on America’s roads and highways.
But by 1970 that number had climbed back to over 10,000 thanks to new federal policies that encouraged fuel efficiency and cleaner transportation options like electric vehicles.
First Modern Electric Vehicle History and Introduction
In 1890, the first modern electric vehicle was introduced. The vehicle was called the Columbia, and it was powered by a battery. The Columbia was built by the Columbia Electric Vehicle Company and became the first mass-produced electric vehicle.
In 1891, William Morrison of Des Moines demonstrated his new horseless carriage (automobile) in Iowa City at 10 MPH (16 KPH). That same year, Ransom Olds introduced his first gasoline-powered automobile at Detroit’s North Avenue Beach. He sold 13 automobiles that year for $650 each ($1300 in today’s dollars).
By 1912, History of Americans who Bought More Electric Vehicles Than Any Other Vehicle
In the early 1900s, Americans bought more electric vehicles than any other vehicle. Electric vehicles were far more popular than steam-powered or gasoline-powered cars, and they made up a significant percentage of all automobiles sold in the United States during that period.
Electric trams proved to be another popular form of transportation at this time. They were essentially trains or rails. The third type of automobile was also introduced: the motorcycle.
Decline in the Use of Electric Vehicles
The electric vehicle saw a resurgence in the 1960s, but internal combustion engines dominated the automotive market. In the 1970s, oil prices rose dramatically and led to increased fuel efficiency. This prompted many individuals to seek alternative means of transportation such as bicycles or electric vehicles.
In the 1990s and 2000s, there was another push for electric vehicles due to their low cost of operation compared with their gas-powered counterparts. However, these vehicles were limited by range anxiety (the fear that your vehicle may run out of power before reaching its destination).
The fuel crisis of the 1970s
The fuel crisis of the 1970s led to renewed interest in producing and using electric vehicles. At that time, many consumers were looking for a more efficient mode of transportation than what was offered by traditional internal combustion engines (ICEs).
The search for alternative modes of transportation was accelerated by rising oil prices and concerns over environmental degradation. Several countries began developing their own national programs dedicated to promoting electric vehicle research in response to this demand and development.
Programs like France’s Electro mobiles program or Japan’s Build Up Program resulted in government subsidies for new technology companies looking at creating an electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle without any noise pollution.
Interest Among Automakers in Electric Vehicles
Interest among automakers in electric vehicles peaked around 2010 and then dropped off rapidly. In 2015, Toyota sold more than 230,000 Prius models worldwide. But Honda’s Insight hybrid is on its last legs. Only moving 2200 units in 2016.
The Hyundai Ioniq EV was introduced that same year but sold just 1200 units in the US until it was discontinued earlier this year.
The Reason of Drop-off in EVs
The drop-off wasn’t due to falling demand for EVs; it was driven by changes in oil prices that reduced incentives for automakers to pursue electric vehicle technology. In 2007, when crude hit $100 per barrel (bbl), many investors were eager to start new fracking operations as well as build our existing ones into more extensive operations.
This led to an increase in production that drove down demand for crude and ultimately led to lower prices at the pump. This is because while there are other factors influencing oil prices.
Other Factors
Other factors such as geopolitical tensions or natural disasters, shale production is now responsible for anywhere between 15% and 30% of global supply, According to Michael Lynch at Strategic Energy & Economic Research Inc.
According to a study by the Union of Concerned Scientists, the average distance traveled by an EV is only 60% of that of a gasoline-powered vehicle. This means that most EVs can go less than 100 miles before they’re out of charge, making them impractical for long-distance travel or shopping trips to large cities.
The range problem has led some critics to question whether this technology will ever be commercially successful enough to become mainstream. The main concern is that if people have no choice but to recharge their vehicles every 80 miles or so, there won’t be enough charging stations available for them all over America (or wherever else they might live).
Which is the first electric vehicle?
You may be surprised to learn that the first electric vehicle was invented by Robert Anderson in 1832. This is before vehicles were even invented! The first electric vehicle was powered by batteries, but it wasn’t helpful for transportation purposes until after the invention of rechargeable batteries and electric motors.
The first electric vehicle was a tricycle. In fact, most early vehicles were powered by steam engines or gas engines rather than electricity. Many factors made Great Britain an ideal place for developing early automobiles. Its manufacturing industry, railway system, and expertise in metalworking techniques all contributed to making it a hub for innovation around this period.
Who invented the electric vehicle?
The attribution of EV invention has been given to many people. The first electric vehicle was created by Robert Anderson in 1832. It was a battery-powered carriage powered by lead-acid batteries and could travel up to 8 miles at speeds of 3 mph.
It was called the “”electro-magnetic carriage”” and had a lead-acid battery powering a three-wheeled vehicle. But the first mass-produced electric vehicle was invented by Siegfried Marcus in 1899.
First Prototype Vehicle
In 1884, Parker built his first prototype vehicle powered by electricity. The engine was mounted on the front of the vehicle and could move at speeds up to 25 miles per hour (40 km/h). It had no brakes or steering wheel. These features were not added until later versions of this design became available for sale in 1895.
He was born in 1843 and began experimenting with electricity at a young age. When he graduated from college, he created his first successful generator. It produced enough power to light up a small laboratory. For more info, Visit vehicles ambassador. List of battery electric vehicles and their manufacturing date..
| Name | Production years | Number produced |
| Baker Electric | 1899–1915 | |
| BMW i3 | 2013 | 165,000 (2020) |
| BYD F3DM | 2010-2013 | 3,284 |
| Chevrolet Bolt | 2017 | 51,600 (2018) |
| Detroit Electric | 1907–1939 | 13,000 |
| General Motors EV1 | 1996–2003 | 1,117 |
| Henney Kilowatt | 1958–1960 | <100 |
| Honda EV Plus | 1997–1999 | ~300 |
| Mitsubishi i MiEV (Peugeot iOn/Citroën C-Zero) | 2009 | 50,000 (2015) |
| Nissan Leaf | 2010 | 470,000 (2020) |
| Renault Kangoo Z.E. | 2011 | 50,000 (2020) |
| Renault Zoe | 2013 | 200,000 (2020) |
| REVAi | 2001–2012 | 4,000+ |
| Sebring-Vanguard Citicar | 1974–1982 | 4,444 |
| Studebaker Electric | 1902–1912 | 1,841 |
| Tesla Model 3 | 2017 | More than 500,000 by March 2020 |
| Tesla Model S | 2012 | 200,000 (2017) |
| Tesla Roadster | 2008–2012 | 2,500 |
| Toyota RAV4 EV | 1997–2002 | 1,900 |