Electric Vehicles: The Favorite Choice of the Rich and an Impressive Development History Since the 19th Century

Nowadays, electric cars are becoming an increasingly popular choice for the rich, especially when used in the city thanks to outstanding advantages such as being easy to operate and not emitting unpleasant odors or noise. However, few people know that the history of electric vehicles began in the 19th century with many notable milestones.
In 1859, French physicist Gaston Planté invented the rechargeable battery, an important step forward for storing electricity in vehicles. By 1880, inventor Gustave Trouvé improved a small electric motor from the Siemens company and attached a rechargeable battery to British inventor James Starley’s tricycle, creating the world’s first electric vehicle. Despite successful testing on Rue Valois, Paris on April 19, 1881, Trouvé could not obtain a patent for this invention.

In 1884, inventor Thomas Parker built the first electric car in Wolverhampton, England. However, the only document about this car is a photo taken in 1895. France and England were the first countries to support the development of electric vehicles, using electric trains to transport coal from mines. because their engines do not consume oxygen.

Before the internal combustion engine became dominant, electric cars set many records for speed and distance. One of the most outstanding records belongs to racer Camille Jenatzy and her rocket-shaped car Jamais Contente. On April 29, 1899, he broke the “speed barrier” of 100 kilometers per hour, reaching the mark of 105.88 kilometers per hour.

Inventor William Morrison built the first electric car in America in 1890-1891. This 6-seat car can reach a speed of 23 km per hour. About five years later, when auto designer A.L. Ryker introduced the first three-wheeled electric vehicle, and American consumers were just starting to pay attention to this vehicle. Meanwhile, Europeans have been using three-wheeled vehicles, two-wheeled bicycles and electric cars since nearly 15 years ago.

Electric taxis also appeared at the end of the 19th century. In London, engineer Walter Bersey built a fleet of electric taxis and operated them on the streets in 1897. They were nicknamed “hummingbirds” due to their distinctive humming sound. display. That same year, Samuel’s Electric Carriage and Wagon company put 12 electric taxis into operation in New York.

Electric vehicles had many advantages compared to other vehicles at the beginning of the 20th century. They did not vibrate strongly, did not emit odors and noise like gasoline vehicles, and did not require manual operation to start. At that time, gasoline car users had to turn a handle to start the engine.

Rich people love electric cars, using them for trips in the city. The limitation on the range of electric vehicles does not pose a major obstacle because they are used mainly for short ranges. Electric vehicles are often introduced as suitable vehicles for female drivers because they are easy to operate.

The early development of electric vehicles was hindered by a lack of electricity supply infrastructure. However, by 1912, as more homes were connected to electricity, the number of electric vehicles exploded. At the beginning of the 20th century, America had 40% of cars running on steam, 38% on electricity and only 22% on gasoline. A total of 33,842 electric vehicles are registered in the US, making the country the most popular place for electric vehicles. Electric vehicle sales peaked in the early 1910s.

Ford’s mass production of Model T cars had a major impact on electric vehicles. The Model T appeared in 1908, making gasoline cars cheap and popular. In 1912, gasoline cars cost only 650 USD while electric cars cost up to 1,750 USD. That same year, inventor Charles Kettering introduced a new starter, which eliminated the crank on gasoline cars.

Many other factors also contribute to making electric vehicles a thing of the past. In the 1920s, better road systems connecting cities increased the need for transportation. Gasoline became cheaper and more popular, serving the needs of rural people, while very few families living outside the city had electricity. Gasoline stations are also springing up everywhere.

Over the next few decades, electric vehicles did not have many technological advances. Meanwhile, the cheap and abundant supply of gasoline and the continuous development of internal combustion engines have made people no longer need to use other energy-powered vehicles.

Electric cars, which have long been favored by the rich, offer many outstanding advantages in moving around the city. The development history of electric vehicles since the 19th century has proven the attraction and potential of this type of vehicle. Despite many ups and downs, electric vehicles continue to be an important part of the history and future of transportation.