The Evolution of Early Electric Cars: A Fascinating Look at History's First Automobility

Surprisingly, some early electrics look like ordinary cars, while others are more distinctive, like telephone boxes on wheels. The evolution of the electric car has been a fascinating journey through time, featuring a diverse range of designs and functionalities.

Early Examples of Electric Cars

What may surprise many is that the first electric cars looked very similar to horse-drawn wagons without the horse, just like gas cars followed shortly after. In fact, electric cars were used long before the rush to petrol internal combustion engines.

Some of the earliest electric cars were crafted between 1828 and 1839. In 1828, the Hungarian priest and physicist, ányos Jedlik, invented an early type of electric motor and created a small model car powered by his new motor. Between 1832 and 1839, Scottish inventor Robert Anderson also invented a crude electric carriage. While there are no existing photos of these original models, their existence marks the beginning of the electric car journey.

Notable Early Electric Models

Other notable early electric cars include:

The first electric railway locomotive, built in Scotland in 1837 by chemist Robert Davidson. While no photos of the original locomotive exist, it is considered a significant milestone in electric vehicle history as it could carry passengers. The first production electric automobile, built in London in 1884 by inventor Thomas Parker. Despite the somewhat fuzzy photo, it represents a significant step in the development of the electric vehicle. The Flocken Elektrowagen, which went into production in Germany in 1888. Although the photo provided is of a modern replica, it is one of the earliest electric cars with decent photographic evidence.

Here are some images of electric cars from different eras:

A lady charging her electric car in New York before going shopping. Entrepreneur and car enthusiast Jay Leno with his electric car.

The Importance of Early Electric Car Innovations

Technically, the first electric car was a miniature model built in 1828 by ányos Jedlik, although no photographs of it exist. The first electric railway locomotive built in Scotland in 1837 by Robert Davidson was likely the first electric vehicle that could carry a person. The first production electric automobile in London in 1884 by Thomas Parker, and the Flocken Elektrowagen in Germany in 1888, are among the earliest electric cars with photographic evidence.

These early electric cars, with their various designs, have been around for a while and even outnumbered internal combustion engine (ICE) cars at one point. Despite the challenges and limitations of the time, these early electric vehicles laid the foundation for the modern electric car industry.