The first electric vehicles are much older than their internal combustion engine counterparts. The birth of the electric car is officially dated to 1841. However, the first copy, which was a small cart with an electric motor mounted on it, dates back to 1828. In size and design, it looked more like a modern motorized skateboard than a car. However, the nondescript appearance of this unit did not bother its inventor Anjos Jedlik from Hungary at all.
From that moment began the development of machines moving under the influence of electric current. First electric crew actual size was invented between 1828 and 1839 by Robert Anderson living in Scotland. Around the same time, in 1835, Dutch inventors Stratin Groningen and Christopher Becker also created an electric car.
By 1841-1842, electric cars had become more advanced. Robert Anderson and Thomas Davenport came up with the idea for the engine to be powered by non-rechargeable batteries. 1847 was a significant year for the city of Pittsburgh, because a locomotive was launched here, receiving electrical power from the rails along which it moved.
Closer to the 1880s, the concept was developed of how it was possible to extend the time and range of driving an electric car without recharging the battery. This was the merit of the French inventors Camille Fauré and Gaston Dress. Around the same time, the Englishman Ralph Ward was the first to launch a whole line of so-called omnibuses powered by electric motors in the British capital. Omnibuses are the forerunners of modern buses. These events led to the fact that England and France became the countries that were the first to actively develop and produce electric vehicles.
History of electric vehicles in Russia
As for Russia and America, here, up to late XIX century, electric vehicles were mentioned only in the publications of journalists. Only in 1898, Ippolit Romanov, a Russian engineer and inventor, presented his two-seater electric car, which could travel at speeds up to 37.4 km / h. In 1899, he developed a four-seater electric car, as well as omnibuses designed for 17 and 24 passengers.
Passenger cars provided the ability to control speed from 1.5 to 35 kilometers per hour using a nine-speed controller. Romanov paid considerable attention to reducing the weight of his electric vehicles and their handling. He decided to reduce the thickness of the plates in the batteries, and the battery itself was placed horizontally. His labors have borne fruit. In comparison, for example, with the popular French electric car "Zhanto", which weighed 1440 kg, the copy developed by Romanov had a mass of only 720 kg.
History of electric vehicles in the United States
The Americans, on the other hand, were a little more agile. Starting with the invention of the six-passenger electric carriage in 1891 and the electric bicycle in 1895, they also came to realize the potential of electric motors. In 1897, a whole taxi line of several tens of thousands of electric cars was already operating in New York. And Philadelphia became known for its innovation as an electric railway transport for the transport of passengers.
The most famous inventor in the United States was Walter Baker. His carriages and cars were quite comfortable, albeit heavy. They could compete with Packard, Ford and Oldea cars that ran on gasoline. He equipped his electric cars with a soft suspension on four springs. Thanks to the capacious battery, the charge was enough for 6-8 hours of driving. By 1901, Baker's electric cars were capable of speeds of up to 30 kilometers per hour, and the battery charge was enough for a distance of up to 80 km.
Record-breaking electric car
The first world record for land speeds above 100 km/h was set in 1899 on May 1, thanks to the Belgian Camille Genatze and his La Jamais Contente electric car, which topped out at 68 mph. Up to this point, the maximum speed of driving an electric car was fixed at around 92.78 km / h. It was reached by a certain Comte de Chasselus-Lobe on March 4, 1899. The new record-breaking electric car looked like a torpedo, made from an alloy of aluminium, magnesium and tungsten, and weighed approximately 1,000 kg.
It was equipped with two fairly powerful electric motors, the total power of which was 67 horsepower. By setting this record, Ženatze, an electric truck and passenger car company, proved its leadership in the automotive industry and attracted a lot of customers.
Early 20th century
At the beginning of the 20th century, the idea arose to introduce electric motors into the field of firefighting. Thus, cars appeared that moved under their own power over limited distances. They were quite heavy, but made a great contribution to ensuring the safety of the citizens. The first line of battery-powered fire engines was produced by Justus Christian Braun in Germany in 1901.
The largest companies that produced electric cars and electric vehicles were Baker Motor Winkle Company (USA), Jango (France), Bersay (Great Britain), Lorner (Australia). In the American market, the ratio of produced cars with an internal combustion engine and those powered by electricity spoke of the wide popularization of the latter. So in the first years of the 20th century, out of 2.5 thousand cars produced, 1.5 thousand were equipped with an electric motor.
One of the most famous in the United States and the world was Wood's crew, which testified to a considerable breakthrough in the field of electric motors. This transport provided a stable speed of 14 mph with a margin of up to 18 mph. It was valued at $2,000, which at the time was a colossal amount for many Americans. Over time, by 1916, Wood's car appeared and also became famous, which was a real hybrid and could run on an electric motor and an internal combustion engine.
Temporary sunset of the electric car industry and its reasons
At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, electric vehicles competed with each other, as well as cars powered by steam and from an internal combustion engine. Steam cars were quite economical in terms of investment, but they were inconvenient in the winter. To start such a car in sub-zero temperatures, it took half an hour, and sometimes an hour. In addition, steam cars could not hold enough fuel; water to compete in driving distance. In this regard, the most intense competition began between automakers who produced cars that run on electricity and combustible fuel.
The average cost of an electric car at the beginning of the 20th century was $1,000. However, cars decorated with expensive and exclusive elements were also in demand among the rich. The price of such an electric car could reach 3,000 US dollars.
1912 can be considered the most successful year in terms of the mass production of electric vehicles. However, the fashion for them soon dried up and in the 1920s their production in the world was noticeably reduced. If in the early 1900s the share of electric vehicles from all self-propelled vehicles was about 50%, then by the 1920s it had decreased to 1%.
The fact is that the electric cars used at that time were quite slow. This satisfied the conditions of passenger traffic until better roads were built. With the improvement of the quality of roads, it became possible to drive at a higher speed, which at that time could not be given out by electric motors. It was also inconvenient that electric cars of the early 20th century were heavy and started with a special handle. It was much easier to start a car that runs on gasoline and has an electric starter. In this regard, the world has practically forgotten about this type of transport for several decades.
Another very weighty reason was the pressure from the owners of oil rigs. It became possible thanks to the discovery of several large oil fields and a sharp drop in prices for combustible fuel. By 1912, Henry Ford, producing a line of world-famous internal combustion engine cars, was focusing on their mass production. This allowed him to significantly lower the price of his machines. At the cost of electric vehicles did not go with them in any comparison. For example, a roadster with an electric motor cost $1,750 at the time, while an incomparable Ford with an internal combustion engine could be purchased for $650.
In 1916, Baker's company was taken over by Owen Magnetic, which was engaged in the creation of gasoline-powered cars. By this time, the same trend was observed with companies producing electric cars around the world. They were sold and converted to the production of cars with an internal combustion engine.
One of the most famous American companies Detroit Electric, which began the production of electric vehicles in 1907, in best years produced up to 2000 copies per year. However, over time, the number of customers dropped sharply and by the 1940s, the release of these cars became symbolic. The release was stopped in 1942.
Revival of electric vehicles
The 1960s were the stages of the revival of the field of mechanical engineering based on electric motors. The first reason for this was the severe pollution of cities, which became noticeable as soon as people's concern about the Second World War subsided. The health of the urban population was severely undermined due to gas pollution.
Then, oil prices rose sharply, which affected the cost of producing cars with an internal combustion engine. This prompted manufacturers to turn to electric vehicles again.
The revival of this industry began with the release of the Henney Kilowatt car, which was carried out by the National Union Electric Company. In 1959-1960, this car was improved. Its speed has increased from 64 to 97 km / h, and the range on a single battery charge from 64 to 97 kilometers.
The United States has become the main engine of progress in the field of electric cars. In the 1960s and 1970s, Sebrin-Vanguard and Elcar Corporation dominated the industry. They specialized in the production of small two-seater electric vehicles for traveling around the city at a distance of up to 80 km on average.
In the 1970s, the American company Battronic produced 20 electric city buses. And in 1975, American Motor Company sold 350 electric jeeps. postal company USA.
Electric cars of the 90s
In the 1990s, the electric vehicle industry began to gain momentum due to the fact that some of the countries introduced severe restrictions on the use of cars that emit exhaust gases. The state of California became the first in the United States, where a decree came into force to increase the number of environmentally friendly cars to 2%, and by 2003 their number had to be at least 10% of total number state vehicles.
At this time, a beautiful open-top sports car was developed, which captured the hearts of many. Renaissance Tropica gave out up to 100 km / h and could travel up to 130 kilometers without recharging.
Electric vehicles of the 21st century
From that moment on, the most famous car manufacturers have directed and accelerated their developments in the field of environmentally friendly vehicles. In particular, Ford, Toyota, General Motors, Honda and others resorted to this. Toyota has taken the lead since 1997. Its most popular model was the Prius. To date, more than one hundred of these cars have been produced.
Today, the electric car market has several dozen models of various brands. Nissan is leading the way with its Leaf electric vehicle. This electric car has a global market share of over 25% and continues to set sales records in different countries fifth year in a row.
Probably in the near future, or rather, as experts say, around 2019, the number of electric cars on the planet will become a record. But, despite the growing interest in the activities of Tesla Motors and its owner Elon Musk, in fact the concept of using electric Vehicle is only a resuscitation of an old idea, because its real authors lived in the early 19th century. And just their inventions at one time were those ideas that were ahead of their time. Just then, at the dawn of the automotive industry, inventors fought each other for the use of electricity and fossil energy sources in cars, and either fortunately or, unfortunately, oil eventually “won” in this struggle.
Did you know that the first electrically powered vehicle was invented back in 1832 by a Scottish inventor named Robert Anderson?
One of Robert Anderson's electric cars
Of course, his car had a lot of inconveniences, the main one being disposable electric power supplies. That is, in fact, Robert Anderson's car ran on batteries, and this concept did not win much popularity among consumers. However, think about it, the idea of creating electric vehicles will soon be 200 years old, and Elon Musk was not its “father”.
Already a couple of years later, in 1834, the idea of an electric car was picked up by an inventor better known to us, the American Thomas Davenport, who among experts is called the author of the electric car, which put its creation on an industrial footing. And now a real electric motor was installed in his “locomotive”.
Davenport electric motor
Still not perfect, but quite functional. True, at that time Davenport failed to patent his invention - the officials refused to consider his engine due to ... their own ignorance of electricity in general. And the newspapers described his creation as a clear action of the occult and magnetism, that is, they attributed to Davenport sorcery, and not at all an engineering genius.
Meanwhile, already in 1859 in France, the physicist Gaston Plante invented the world's first electric, rechargeable battery. And in 1881, his compatriot Camille Fauré improved it by patenting and calling it the FULMEN battery. This battery was already working and convenient for installation in cars.
And in 1890, using these developments, the first electric car will pass the roads of the United States, scaring away birds, animals and people with its uniform rumbling. It was built by William Morrison, and the US Department of Energy called his car an "electric car" designed to carry six people and capable of speeds up to 14 mph (22.5 km/h).
William Morrison electric car
By the way, the first fine in the world for speeding on the road was also received by a driver driving an electric rather than a gasoline vehicle.
In 1897, city taxis appeared in some capitals of the world, and they were electric. And most big company for the serial production of electric vehicles in those years was the American company Pope Manufacturing Company from Connecticut.
The world-famous automobile giant Porsche also made a great contribution to the development of electric vehicles, having built a car in 1898, which was called the Lohner Porsche. In 1900, the same company managed to create the world's first hybrid car model, combining an electrical installation and an internal combustion engine. Even Thomas Edison has been developing his energy-intensive storage battery for a long time, believing that the scientific and technological progress of mankind will be based solely on electricity.
By 1900, according to official documents, in America and Europe, one third of all existing cars were electric. For example, in 1911, the New York Times even called them ideal vehicles for women, believing that the fair sex would not have enough to drive gasoline cars. physical strength. On top of that, electric cars outperformed petrol ones because of their quietness and lack of exhaust gases. They were easy to use and traveled longer distances with a full battery charge.
But, in 1912, Henry Ford presented to society the concept of mass production of cars on oil. At the same time, being an ardent supporter of gasoline engines, he sharply reduced the prices of such vehicles. For comparison, a gasoline car then began to cost about $ 650, and electric "carriages" cost consumers three times more - approximately $ 1,750.
One of Henry Ford's first cars (gasoline, of course)
And, by 1935, electric cars on planet Earth had practically disappeared. It took decades before humanity spoke of them again.
So what was the reason for their "extinction"? The much lower price of a petrol car compared to an electric car was a significant factor, but not the only one. Somewhere in the 20s of the 20th century, mankind began to increasingly master the use of crude oil and gas. The oil traders wanted to get more and more people to use their product. To do this, they began to build gas stations everywhere on the roads, and with the advent of good roads with high-quality coverage, people wanted to explore the world and conduct their business between cities and countries. But, there were still few stations for recharging electric vehicles, because electricity in those years was localized mainly in major cities, and outside of them it was practically absent. And in the end, electricity lost to gasoline the battle for affordability and simplicity.
The next year of the “birth” of electric vehicles can be called 1959, when Henny Kilowatt developed his car model that can travel up to 40 miles (64 km) on a full battery charge and reach speeds in excess of 60 km / h.
Electric car Henny Kilowatt
Later, he would be able to build a car that covered 96 km of road on a full battery charge, but still his cars did not gain popularity. And out of 100 of his electric cars, only 47 sold out.
But the idea of using electricity as a fuel for transportation did not completely die then. And since the 70s, in many countries of the world, public and state currents, urging manufacturers to reorient their vehicles to electricity.
CitiCar electric car produced in 1974
This happened due to the rise in world oil prices and the dependence of the economies of different countries on it. Ecology has also become an important factor for mankind. However, again, no one built electric stations, electric cars were expensive, and human practicality again defeated progress.
Only in the late 90s, the Japanese automaker Toyota, with the creation of its hybrid model Toyota Prius, renewed mankind's interest in electricity, and the 2000s have rightfully become the era of electric vehicles.
In 2006, Tesla Motors entered the vehicle manufacturing market with its Tesla Roadster, which other manufacturers later began to join.
But despite the success of many of them today, electric cars still make up only a small percentage of the cars that are on our roads. And the reason for this, many experts call another drop in world oil and gas prices, which clearly hinder the development of the electric car industry.
We can only hope that this is Once again will not kill the desire of mankind to move in step with the times. However, now you will definitely know: electric cars were invented hundreds of years ago, and their real “father” is not Elon Musk at all, but a little-known Scottish engineer named Robert Anderson.