The Electric Car: Then And Now
Battery-Powered Cars Aren’t So New, As These Photos Show
Although the recent resurgence of electric and hybrid electric cars has shed new light on the potential benefits that such designs offer over conventional gasoline-powered cars, the electric car is far from a new concept. In fact, electric cars have been around since the very early days of the automotive industry. In the early 20th century, there was a close battle for dominance among several automotive technologies, as steam-powered cars and electric cars had yet to give way to the internal combustion engine. The first picture here, which was scanned to digital for preservation, shows the prolific inventor Thomas Edison (left) standing with an electric car running on an alkaline battery of his design. Edison strongly believed in electric cars, and took up the cause in 1900 to design an entirely new battery chemistry to improve the range of battery-powered vehicles. He believed that trains and trucks could also be improved by switching to electric power. Around the year 1910, Edison abandoned his work on electric car batteries as gas-powered engines became the front-runner for setting the standard in automotive tech.
What’s the earliest hybrid car you can think of? The Toyota Prius was certainly the first to become widely popular. The Honda Insight, first launched in the late 1990s, was the first to be mass-produced and sold to the public. But the concept dates back quite a bit further, to the beginnings of automotive history. In 1900, a 25-year-old engineer named Ferdinand Porsche (yes, that Porsche) invented the first hybrid car, which is pictured in the second photo, scanned to digital by the Museum of Automotive History. The designed utilized electric motors mounted near the front wheels to help propel the car.
Fast forward a century, and the streets are full of hybrid cars. Meanwhile, the all-electric car is making a serious comeback. Mainstream automakers like Nissan and Mitsubishi are selling electric cars in increasing numbers, and boutique automakers like Tesla have made a name for themselves by making only electric cars. Tesla recently announced its newest design, the Model X, which features stylish and functional falcon-wing doors that make ingress and egress easy even in tight spots. In the photo here, Tesla co-founder Elon Musk demonstrates the doors, which have a unique hinge that allows the doors to fold as they rise from the car’s frame. The Model X’s SUV-like design is large enough to replace the family minivan, yet compact enough to maneuver in and out of tight parking spaces. The Model X will have an estimated range of up to 260 miles per charge, depending on battery options, when it is released next year.
Tags: scan to digital
