The first known electric car was built by chemist Robert Davidson in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1837—48 years earlier than the first internal combustion car. Thomas Parker, an English inventor, built the first practical electric car in London in 1884 and started production soon thereafter.
Thomas Alva Edison recommended Henry Ford to manufacture electric cars rather than internal combustion cars and is credited in saying,
“Electricity is the thing. There are no whirring and grinding gears with their numerous levers to confuse. There is not that almost terrifying uncertain throb and whirr of the powerful combustion engine. There is no water-circulating system to get out of order — no dangerous and evil-smelling gasoline and no noise.”
Still, the short range, time to recharge and low top speed of electric vehicles led to a worldwide decline in their use. By 1935 they had all but disappeared. The early 60s marked the rebirth of electric cars based on the need to reduce contamination from exhaust emissions and dependency on imported oil.
Now, burning coal or natural gas at a generation plant to produce electricity to later power electric cars is clearly not the smartest way to reduce pollution and CO2 emissions—although still better than gasoline vehicles.
What’s exciting about electric cars is the near future:
- distributed solar in rooftops, charging…
- clean batteries—hopefully, FlashCharge Batteries—in the basements, that charge…
- electric cars at any time of the day or night in 15 minutes or less—hopefully, cars powered by FlashCharge Batteries.
For electric cars to become the vehicle of choice and reduce pollution from fossil fuel combustion, manufacturers’ only need is a battery that: charges fast, powers cars for 100 miles or more, delivers more power for instant response and is non-flammable.