The Concepts of Electric Automobiles

By: Johan Young

electric automobiles

The concepts of electric and hybrid vehicles have been around for a long time, even before the invention of the gasoline engine.  Few moving parts and simpler technology gave the electric automobiles a head start.  And issues with the electric automobiles technology provided opportunity for hybrid technologies to make improvements.  However, the development of the internal combustion engine revolutionized modern transportation as it is today.  Now with the rise of health-threatening pollutants caused by gasoline powered engines, new age electric and hybrid vehicles are now truly becoming a reality.  And Hybrid automobiles are getting more and more popular.  Because of their growing popularity, car manufacturers are competing for the “green car” market with the winners surviving in the new economy.

When Electric Automobiles Ruled the World

Robert Anderson of Scotland created the first electric car during the 1830s.  Professor Stratingh of Groningen from Holland designed a simple electric auto. It was Stratingh’s assistant,  Christopher Becker, who built the model in 1835. In 1842, Thomas Davenport from the United States and Robert Davidson from Scotland built more advanced electric vehicles using non-rechargeable electric cells.  Gaston Plante from France improved the storage battery and created a better model in 1865. Sixteen years later, improvements in the storage battery were made by Camille Faure.  During late 1800, several European countries such as England and France began distribution of electricity all the while the electric vehicle was being innovated for better design and performance.  The United States followed with the creation of electric tricycles.

At the turn of the century, electric automobiles were selling better than their gasoline engine counterparts due to less vibration, noise and pollutants.  In 1916, Woods invented the first hybrid consisting of an electric motor and combustion engine.  The cost of electric vehicles were quite expensive so that only those belonging to the upper class were able to afford them.  Price would reach $ 2000 to $ 3000 depending on the interior and the materials used. Production peak for electric vehicles were from 1910 to 1912.  During the 1920s, road systems were significantly improved so people needed vehicles that traveled farther than electric automobiles.  The price of gasoline also decreased making it more affordable for everyone. Charles Kettering invented the electric starter for gasoline cars taking away the tedious hand crank.  Henry Ford and the idea of mass production continued to put pressure on sales of electric automobiles. Gasoline cars at this point were only about one-third the price of an electric vehicle.

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