Electric cars were once a thing of futuristic novels. Now you will notice when you watch ads on TV for cars, most of the time they are advertising their latest electric model.
This big switch has happened as a result of global warming and people looking for a better alternative to petrol and diesel cars. As technology improves, so does the number of electric car offerings.
In this article, you will learn more about the evolution of the electric car.
The long ago past
You may be surprised to know that electric car technology is not a new thing – they were born in 1830!
In the early days of motoring, there were more electric cars on the road than anything else.
However, the cars at this time were essentially go-carts. They travelled an average of 7 miles per hour and were extremely difficult to handle.
By the late 1880s, a rechargeable battery had been added to the electric vehicle by William Morrison, and they could travel around 20 miles per hour.
The fuel takeover
Between 1914 and 1930, the internal combustion engine took over from electric cars and the use of electric-powered vehicles became practically non-existent. This was largely because the combustion engine offered greater power without the need to recharge.
Petrol during this time was also very cheap and in abundance, although little was known about the environmental impact of motor cars.
Electric makes a comeback!
By the 1970s, oil became much scarcer and petrol prices increased. In response to this, manufacturers began to look at electric vehicles once again. However, in comparison to combustion engines, the cars were still lagging far behind.
They were slow and the batteries didn’t last long. In 1997, however, the world was introduced to the first hybrid engine in the Toyota Prius.
This was a revelation for the motoring industry and paved the way for the electric vehicles we know today.
The introduction of the lithium-ion battery!
In around 2006, Tesla announced they would be creating an electric car that could travel almost 200 miles on a single charge! The downside was the cars were very expensive to produce, and most people couldn’t afford to purchase these cars.
Other manufacturers quickly caught on to the opportunities in electric power and began competing with each other to develop the best electric engine possible.
Further success came from the introduction of the Lithium-Ion battery to electric cars, which allowed the car to go further and have more power. In addition, these batteries were cheaper than the current technology (although still expensive!)
This technology had been around since 1973 when M Stanley Whittingham managed to create a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, but it wasn’t until much later that it would be used in cars.
Modern day electric vehicles
By 2021, technology had improved immensely. Lithium-ion batteries still fuel most electric vehicles, but they are being developed cheaper and falling in price of production every year, so the hope is that very soon, electric vehicles will become more affordable, and the average household can use one.
Many manufacturers have now committed to stopping producing combustion engine cars altogether in the future due to their negative impacts on the environment.
Facilities
With electric cars becoming the first choice for a more environmentally friendly mode of transport. We have seen our world change.
Electric charging points are popping up at most supermarkets and shopping centres making it easier than ever to charge your electric vehicle. Also, the price of electric car insurance is now dropping significantly. In addition to this many companies now offer electric car leasing, so if the upfront cost is a barrier to entry for you in owning an electric vehicle, then leasing an electric car could be a great option for you.
Limitations
At present, there are a few limitations of electric vehicles. They can travel up to 500 miles on a single charge, which is plenty for most people, but if you were planning on driving a very long distance on holiday, for example, you may need to plan your route around charging points.
In addition to this, they are still costly at present with very little choice in terms of used cars, so are unobtainable for many people. Over time, manufacturers plan to bring the cost more in line with combustion engine vehicles and used electric cars will start filtering their way down through the marketplace.
Electric cars have certainly come a long way since they could only do 7 miles per hour, but who knew they had been around since the early 1800s!
The history of the electric vehicle is certainly a fascinating one and will be one to watch in the future as it changes the shape of how we travel! If you’re considering making an electric vehicle purchase, check ROLLiN’ electric vehicle insurance to protect your investment.
