It’s almost impossible to comprehend that no more than a century ago some were still commuting by horse and carriage, isn’t it? But how did we go from horse to electricity?
The Outing Magazine, Volume 51, Page 207, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
It all started when a Scotsman named Robert Anderson built the first recorded motorised carriage between 1832 and ’39. At the time this invention was more ‘proof that there were potentially other options than commuting via horse and carriage’ than an actual electric car, as there were not yet rechargeable batteries to be used, but nonetheless this would eventually prove to be an undeniable breakthrough. Especially considering that in 1884, Englishman Thomas Parker picked up where Anderson left off by creating the first electric production car in London that used its own high-capacity rechargeable batteries.
Word of this incredible development then spread across the pond to the USA, where a man named William Morrison introduced a very simple electric-powered carriage that ultimately led to electric modes of transport occupying a third of the US roads in the late 1880s. However, the gap in price between electric motors and combustion engines were much greater which meant that electric vehicles didn’t gain as much traction in the worldwide car markets as Morrison may have liked, despite its benefits for the environment.
However, this wasn’t the end of electric vehicles! At the turn of the century many had heard of the success of electric vehicles (even with their limitations), and none were more important than Thomas Edison. At a controversial time, Edison insisted that electric vehicles were the ‘superior mode of transportation’ as he explored new ways to improve the technology behind electric vehicles, for example increasing the range and power. These technological improvements meant that electric vehicles were slowly making their way back to UK roads as they were beginning to be viewed as more practical and easier to drive without the necessity of changing up and down gears.
However, it did turn out to be a short-lived victory dance for electric vehicles. With the progression of roads, which began connecting cities and towns, came a greater demand for faster, more efficient cars with longer ranges and quicker refuel times (not to mention that there were also depreciating oil prices at the time). It was in 1908, though, that Henry Ford put the final nail in the EV coffin as he introduced the world’s first affordable car to the market, otherwise known as the Ford Model T, which well and truly wiped the floor with all electric vehicle options of the time, both in price and performance.
For decades to come the whole concept of electric cars would lay dormant, almost even a distant memory as combustion engines strived in a completely unopposed market. Petrol and diesel engines continued to dominate roads through the day, meanwhile the electric motor found itself only as a service for the milkman, who drove electrified buggies whilst quietly delivering milk to homes early in the morning. This was the case anyway, until the 1970s when a drastic rise in petrol prices opened the inside lane, allowing electric vehicles to make a comeback!
Thanks to the spotlight being shown back on EVs, In ’73 a British chemist named Michael Stanley Whittingham invented the world’s first rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (which we can now find in our phones or in our cars). This breakthrough would prove to be a key moment in the resurgence of electric vehicles, but ultimately it was swept under the rug for another 20 years as the petrol prices had dropped yet again and so people were no longer interested in exploring alternative fuel options.
Fast forward to the late 1990s, where tightening emission rules forced manufacturers to turn to the future with alternatively fuelled motors. This is when car manufacturers took their first (half) leap towards EVs with the likes of Toyota and Honda unveiling the world’s first mass-produced hybrid-vehicles (using M. Stanley Whittingham’s findings)-The most successful being the Toyota Prius which offered a greener commute and for the first time without the steep gap in price compared to a typical petrol/diesel engine. Finally, an affordable alternative.
Then came the next step towards seeing all-electric motors on the UK roads with the Nissan Leaf launching as the first mass-produced all-electric car on the market in 2011. The Leaf was groundbreaking, paving the way for the impressive number of EVs that are available to us now in 2024, all of which are benefitting from upgraded technology year on year.
Since all-electric cars were introduced to the UK markets there has been a significant increase of them being driven annually, and this trend will only continue with the government planning to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars in the UK beyond 2035, so jump on the bandwagon before you get left behind. If you’re torn between choosing to go electric or continuing to drive petrol/diesel cars, just remember how far EVs have come – and consider how far they may go. Be on the right side of history.
If you are still not sure about your next choice of car, then we can help. There are plenty of articles to assist you – including our lease comparison tool – and our Car Leasing Guides if you are new to leasing. Alternatively, you can pick up the phone – our leasing specialists will be happy to assist you on 0344 387 2727.
This entry was posted in Car Leasing Knowledge on by Ben Holt
Categories : Car Leasing Knowledge
