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History of Electric Cars Timeline
(1830s - Present)The history of electric cars spans nearly two centuries, beginning with early battery-powered vehicles in the 1830s and peaking in popularity around 1900 before gasoline cars took over. After decades of decline, concerns over pollution and oil dependence sparked a revival in the late 20th century, leading to today's rapidly growing electric vehicle market led by companies like Tesla, Nissan, and BYD. More Less
Early Innovations
Robert Anderson's early electric car
1832 - 1839
Robert Anderson is often credited with inventing the first electric car some time between 1832 and 1839, a crude early vehicle that demonstrated the potential of electric propulsion long before practical automobiles existed.
Image source: History of the electric vehicle
Gustave Trouvé presents an electric car in Paris
1881
In 1881, Gustave Trouvé presented an electric car driven by an improved Siemens motor at the Exposition internationale d'Électricité de Paris, an early milestone in demonstrating electric vehicle technology to the public.
Image source: Gustave Trouvé
Siemens presents the Electromote trolleybus
1882
In 1882, Werner von Siemens presented the Electromote in Berlin, the world's first trolleybus, showcasing early applications of electric traction for road transport.
Image source: Electromote
Thomas Parker builds an electric car in Wolverhampton
1884
In 1884, Thomas Parker built an electric car in Wolverhampton, England using his own specially designed high-capacity rechargeable batteries, although the only documentation is a photograph from 1895.
Image source: Thomas Parker (inventor)
Flocken Elektrowagen designed
1888
In 1888, the German Andreas Flocken designed the Flocken Elektrowagen, which is regarded as the first 'real' electric car, a four-wheeled vehicle suitable for use on roads.
Image source: Flocken Elektrowagen
First electric car introduced to the United States
1890
In 1890, Andrew Morrison introduced the first electric car to the United States, helping spark American interest in electric automobile propulsion.
Golden Age and Decline
Electric cars enter commercial taxi service
1897
In 1897, electric cars found commercial use as taxis in Britain and in the United States, marking their entry into everyday urban transportation.
New York City's Electrobat II taxi fleet
1897
In 1897, New York City had a fleet of twelve hansom cabs and one brougham based on the Electrobat II, introduced as part of a project partly funded by the Philadelphia Electric Storage Battery Company.
Image source: Electrobat
La Jamais Contente breaks 100 km/h barrier
1899
The rocket-shaped La Jamais Contente, driven by Camille Jenatzy, broke the 100 km/h speed barrier by reaching a top speed of 105.88 km/h (65.79 mph) in 1899. It was the last of six electric cars to hold the land speed record in the 19th century.
Image source: La Jamais Contente
US electric car manufacturers of the 20th century
1900 - 1939
During the 20th century, the main US manufacturers of electric vehicles included Anthony Electric, Baker, Columbia, Anderson, Edison, Riker, Milburn Wagon Company (Milburn Light Electric), Bailey Electric, and Detroit Electric.
Key Facts
- In 1828, Hungarian engineer Ányos Jedlik built one of the first small-scale electric-powered vehicles, laying early groundwork for EV development.
- By 1900, roughly one-third of all cars on American roads were electric, making them a serious competitor to gasoline and steam vehicles.
- The invention of the electric starter by Charles Kettering in 1912 and cheap gasoline contributed to the rapid decline of electric cars by the 1930s.
- The 1990s saw renewed interest in EVs, including General Motors' EV1 (1996), though it was later discontinued, inspiring the documentary 'Who Killed the Electric Car?'
- Tesla's Roadster (2008) proved lithium-ion batteries could power practical long-range EVs, triggering the modern electric vehicle boom.
Source
This History of Electric Cars timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.
We work hard to keep these timelines accurate, but mistakes do get through. If you spot one, email us at [email protected] and we'll fix it for future visitors.
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