The Very First Electric Car
The electric car may seem like a modern innovation, but its origins date back much further than most people realise. In fact, the first practical EVs appeared in the early 19th century, long before gasoline-powered cars became dominant.
Early Innovations (1828–1835)
The idea of an electrically powered vehicle emerged in the early 1800s when inventors across different countries experimented with battery-powered transport. Hungarian engineer Ányos Jedlik is credited with creating one of the first small-scale electric motors in 1828, which he used to power a tiny model car. Around the same time, innovators like Scottish inventor Robert Anderson and Dutch professor Sibrandus Stratingh were also developing crude electric-powered carriages, though these early models were largely experimental and impractical for widespread use.
First Practical Electric Vehicle (1830s–1880s)
The first true breakthrough came in 1835 when Thomas Davenport, an American inventor, built a small electric vehicle powered by a direct current (DC) motor. While rudimentary, this was the first recorded instance of an electrically driven vehicle capable of movement. However, early electric vehicles were hindered by the limitations of battery technology. Early batteries were not rechargeable, making electric cars inconvenient compared to horse-drawn carriages or later gasoline-powered automobiles.
It wasn’t until the 1859 invention of the rechargeable lead-acid battery by Gaston Planté that electric vehicles became more viable. In 1881, Camille Alphonse Faure improved battery designs, leading to longer-lasting power sources. Around this time, inventors in France and England began producing more practical electric-powered transportation.
Rise of Electric Cars (1880s–1900s)
The late 19th century saw the rise of electric vehicles as a legitimate mode of transport. In 1888, German engineer Andreas Flocken built what is considered the first true electric car, known as the Flocken Elektrowagen. Around the same period, electric taxis began operating in London and New York, demonstrating the technology’s potential for urban transport.
By the early 1900s, electric cars were actually more popular than gasoline-powered vehicles. They were quieter, easier to operate and didn’t require hand-cranking like early combustion engines. However, advancements in internal combustion engines and the mass production of gasoline cars, led by Henry Ford’s Model T in 1908, soon led to the decline of electric cars.
While electric vehicles faded from mainstream use for much of the 20th century, their early development laid the foundation for today’s EV revolution. The technology that began nearly 200 years ago has now come full circle, as modern electric cars reclaim their place on the roads.
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