The History of Electric Cars is Littered With Failure and Rebirth
The history of electric cars dates back to the 1830s with Robert Anderson's crude electric carriage, and by 1900, about one-third of all vehicles on American roads were electric. However, they disappeared due to cost, convenience, and timing, but resurfaced every few decades, driven by environmental concerns and technological advancements.
Electric cars are not a modern invention, with the first electric carriage built by Robert Anderson in the 1830s. By the late 1800s, electric vehicles were viable consumer products, with William Morrison's electric carriage introduced in the U.S. in the 1890s. In 1900, about one-third of all vehicles on American roads were electric, but they were eventually replaced by gasoline cars due to cost and convenience. The electric starter introduced by Charles Kettering in 1912 eliminated the need for hand-cranking gasoline engines, making gas cars more practical. Electric cars resurfaced in the 1960s and 1970s, driven by environmental concerns and technological advancements, with the CitiCar being one of the more memorable results, selling nearly 4,500 units between 1974 and 1982.
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