What was the first electric car in history?
To understand the origin of the electric car and which was the first in history, we must travel to the 19th century, a time of industrial effervescence and inventions that would change the world, when the invention of the car was in full swing and when different prototypes, powered by steam, electricity, and gasoline, competed for supremacy. In this context, electricity was presented as a very promising alternative, especially in urban environments due to its how clean it was and ease of use. Although several inventors experimented with rudimentary electric vehicles in the 1830s and 1880s (such as Robert Anderson in Scotland and Thomas Parker in England), general consensus points to the fact that the first practical and functional electric car was developed by the German engineer Andreas Fen in 1888, whose "Flocken Elektrowagen" is considered by many to be the first four-wheeled electric car, demonstrating the viability of electric propulsion despite its primitivism for current standards. In their early days, electric cars had a significant advantage over their internal combustion counterparts. They were quieter, with no emissions, and did not have the tedious manual start process involving a crank handle. They were easier to drive as they did not require gear changes, which made them especially popular among the urban elite. In fact, at the beginning of the 20th century, electric vehicles represented approximately a third of all cars on U.S. roads.
Why did the first electric cars disappear?
Despite their promising start, the popularity of electric cars and their successors drastically declined starting in the 1920s for several key reasons:
- Mass production of gasoline vehicles: The introduction of the Ford Model T in 1908, with its assembly line, drastically reduced the cost of internal combustion cars, making them accessible for the masses.
- Improvements in internal combustion engines: Inventions such as the electric starter motor (which eliminated the handle) and the improvement of road infrastructure made gasoline cars more practical for long journeys.
- Limits on range and charging: The electric cars of the time had a very limited range and required long charging times, which made them impractical outside of cities.
The resurgence of the electric car: how did the revolution start?
Taking care of the environment, a high dependence on fossil fuels, especially following the oil crises of the 1970s, and evidence of climate change all laid the groundwork for the rebirth of the electric car. However, the true revolution began in the early 21st century, driven by a series of key factors: the development of more efficient, powerful, and compact lithium-ion batteries that represented a technological turning point; a growing environmental awareness that made the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions imperative; the implementation of government incentives with many countries, including Spain, offering financial assistance for purchasing and tax benefits to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles; and the emergence of innovative companies such as Tesla, which showed us that electric cars could be desirable, high performance, and have competitive autonomy, thus challenging the traditional automotive industry.
What role do electric cars play in sustainable mobility?
The electric car is a fundamental pillar of sustainable mobility for multiple reasons:
- Reduction of emissions: By not emitting exhaust gases, they help to improve air quality in the cities. If the electricity comes from renewable energy sources, the carbon footprint is almost completely eliminated.
- Energy efficiency: Electric motors are considerably more efficient than internal combustion engines.
- Less noise pollution: Their quiet operation reduces noise in urban areas.
- Energy diversification: They promote energy independence by encouraging the use of national and renewable energy sources.
In Spain, the 2021-2030 National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan sets ambitious targets for the electrification of the car fleet, anticipating that by 2030 there will be 5 million electric vehicles on the road.
Curiosities about the first electric cars
The first electric cars, although rudimentary, already showed signs of what they would be capable of:
- Maximum speed: the first Flocken electric car reached a speed of around 16 km/h. At the beginning of the 20th century, "La Jamais Contente," an electric car with a torpedo shape, set the speed record in 1899, exceeding 100 km/h (105.88 km/h to be exact), demonstrating the potential of electricity for speed.
- Autonomy: the autonomy of the first models was very limited, often not exceeding 50-80 kilometers on a single charge, which made them ideal for short urban journeys. In contrast, a modern electric car like the Tesla Model 3 can exceed 500 km of range.
- Ferdinand Porsche and the electric car: Did you know that the first car designed by Ferdinand Porsche, the founder of the famous brand, was an electric vehicle? In 1900, the "Lohner-Porsche Mixte Hybrid" was a hybrid car that combined electric motors in the wheels with an internal combustion engine to generate electricity, a concept ahead of its time.
The story of the first electric car is a testament to perseverance and adaptation. Since their humble beginnings in the 19th century, electric vehicles have proven their ability to evolve and revolutionize 21st century mobility.