There was a time in the early history of automotive vehicles when gasoline was least preferred, because of the exhaust fumes. Other inconveniences included cranking the engine to get it started, and wrestling with stubborn levers to change the gears. Today we recall the days of early electric vehicle history, before the oil boom took control.
Historic Days of the Lohner-Porsche Electric Vehicle
The arrival of commercial lead-acid batteries enabled Ferdinand Porsche to produce a hybrid electric battery vehicle in 1898. Although his aim was to reduce gasoline consumption, the vehicle succeeded in breaking several Austrian speed records.
The Woods Motor Vehicle was another good example of an electric hybrid vehicle, able to reach 35 mph despite the weight of its lead-acid batteries. However, early electric vehicles were out of reach of the general public, until Samuel’s Electric Carriage and Wagon Company introduced a fleet of battery-powered electric cabs in New York in 1897.
Vehicle Owners Were Spoiled for Choices in Early Days
As the 20th century dawned, American car owners basked in three choices for automotive power. They could opt for established steam, emerging electric battery power, or the latest competitor, internal combustion engines. The world was poised at a critical point that would have huge ramifications a century later.
Battery University explains how the electric option appealed to the wealthy upper class. Just like modern electric vehicle drivers today, price was not a problem and they valued the fine interiors, expensive materials, and lack of carbon emissions. They also appreciated less maintenance, and having fewer levers to control.
Automotive vehicles remained the semi-playground of the rich, until Henry Ford dreamed of a gasoline-powered auto for every family. The dawn of the self-starter arrived shortly after, as the sheer volume of Ford customers overwhelmed the struggling electric car market. Our natural environment, which sustains us was the loser in the zest for a better lifestyle now. Global warming was about to begin!
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