The rise and demise of the first Electric Vehicles.

The origins of first Electric Vehicle (EV) actually goes way back to 1828 when a Hungarian inventor named Anyos Jedlik invented an early electric motor which he used to power a small model (EV).

1828 – Jedlik’s small model (EV)

From here on interest in (EVs) steadily grew year on year and in 1884 an English inventor Thomas Parker built the world’s first production (EV) in Wolverhampton, this was partly motivated by the rise and effects of smoke and pollution in London.  

1884 – only photo documentation of the first production (EV)

​Note, Parker was also responsible for introducing a number of electrifying innovations including the electrification of the London Underground as well as working on overhead electric tramways in Liverpool and Birmingham. 

In the following decades of the 1890s and 1900s the public’s interest in early (EVs) increased quickly mainly due to the popularity of their efficiency the lack of foul-smelling emissions and their quick start up times. It should be noted steam powered vehicles took as long as 45 minutes to heat up to operate. 
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In America at the turn of the 20th century and at the height of their popularity of (EVs) there were a total of 33,842 (EVs), in New York an electric fleet of 62 all electric hansom cabs were successfully transporting people around the city. 

So why did Electric Vehicles not take off?  

In 1910 Henry Ford’s mass production (ICE) engine vehicle, the (Model T – Ford) offered the consumer a superior lower fuel price, greater speed and a greater distance range.  These fossil fuel powered cars was the final nail in the coffin for the mass adoption of the early (EVs).  
Incredibly, looking at the images below you can see that within a period of 13 years 5th Ave in downtown New York City had made the transition from the horse drawn carriage to (ICE) engine. 

For further information relating to the early evolution of (EVs) please open the link below: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5212278/Worlds-first-electric-car-built-by-Victorian-inventor-in-1884.html