Electric Cars

 By Bruce Shawkey

Electric and hybrid cars are all the rage right now with high gas prices and green house gasses causing global warming and all that. I myself have owned two Toyota Prii (Toyota says this is the official plural of Prius) hybrids, not necessarily because I wanted to save the environment, but because of the good gas mileage, and Toyota's renowned reliability.

We tend to forget that electric cars are nothing new; in fact they were around even before gasoline engine powered cars. 

The first recorded instance of an electric vehicle dates back to the mid-1800s.  In the 1830s,  Scottish inventor Robert Anderson developed a rudimentary electric carriage. However, these early inventions were limited by the primitive batteries at the time, which were unable to store sufficient energy for practical use.

The real potential for electric cars emerged with the invention of the rechargeable battery by French physicist Gaston Planté in 1859. Planté's lead-acid battery was later improved by Camille Alphonse Faure, making it more durable and capable of storing more energy. This innovation was crucial, as it provided a viable energy source for electric vehicles, paving the way for further experimentation and development.

By the late 1800s, electric vehicles began to gain traction. In 1881, Gustave Trouvé demonstrated a working three-wheeled electric vehicle at the International Exposition of Electricity in Paris. Shortly after, in 1888, German inventor Andreas Flocken built the Flocken Elektrowagen, considered by many to be the first real electric car.

The early 20th century marked a golden era for electric vehicles. In the United States, electric cars became increasingly popular, particularly among the urban elite. They were quieter, easier to operate, and did not require the manual effort needed to start gasoline engines with a crank. (This was before the electric starter was invented). Companies like the Baker Motor Vehicle Company (left), Detroit Electric, and Columbia Electric Car Company emerged, producing electric cars that were stylish and luxurious.

One notable example was the 1912 Detroit Electric Model 30, which had a range of about 80 miles on a single charge and could reach speeds of up to 20 mph. Clara Ford, the wife of Henry Ford, was among the prominent owners of a Detroit Electric car (right), highlighting the appeal of electric vehicles even among automotive industry insiders.

Despite their initial success, electric cars began to decline in popularity after the 1910s. The discovery of large oil reserves and the mass production techniques introduced by Henry Ford made gasoline-powered cars more affordable and accessible. The invention of the electric starter for internal combustion engines in 1912 also eliminated the need for manual cranking, addressing one of the major drawbacks of gasoline cars.

Moreover, the limited range and longer charging times of early electric vehicles made them less practical compared to their gasoline counterparts, which could travel longer distances and refuel quickly.

It was not until the oil crises of the 1970s (in 1973 and 1979) that the electric car was considered again. This was prompted by an awareness of rising oil prices. One of the more unusual vehicles is seen at left. Produced from 1974 to 1977, it had a top speed of 39 miles per hour and could go about 40 miles on a full charge. I don't think it ever caught on! The average price of a Commuta-car was around $6,500, about the price of a mid-size gas powered car.