Electric Automobiles
The first powerful direct current electric motor was originally invented by Thomas Davenport in Brandon, Vermont in 1834. Prior to this other inventors had made weak devices that created motion, but these devices were not suitable for doing any jobs for humankind. Davenport was just a blacksmith by trade, but he dreamed a future with electric trains and trolleys. He build a scale model electric train that went around an oval track. Davenport died young, but many others continued to develop electric transportation.
Leading up to the electric car some components had to be invented:
1821 - Michael Faraday creates the first weak experimental electromagnet
1831 -Joseph Henry builds the first powerful electromagnet (the main component of the electric motor)
1834 - Thomas Davenport develops the first electric motor for commercial use. He creates an electric miniature train and model car. His inventions fail to become profitable since he was using unreliable primitive batteries and the DC dynamo had not been invented yet.
1851 - The US Senate funds an experimental electric railway from Washington DC to Baltimore. It was engineered byCharles Grafton Page. The effort fails when the batteries crack and coils overheat. Steam still proves to be more practical at this point.
1883 - England opens the first commercially successful electric tram/trolley engineered by Magnus Volk
1886 - Frank Sprague invents the first practical DC motor, it is capable of consistent speed under varying loads and does not creating sparks
1887 - Frank Sprague uses his DC motor in trolley systems in North America
1897 - Electric cars first used in commercial use as taxis in New York City. They were built by the Electric Carriage and Wagon Company of Philadelphia.
1897 - Baker Motor Vehicle Company founded by Walter C. Baker. Baker made a vehicle with 100 miles range on a charge and top speeds of 22 mph.
1900 - 38% of US automobiles are powered by electricity
1900 - Ferdinand Porsche builds electric cars with max speeds up to 37 mph. Includes the first hybrid electric car and first all wheel drive car.
1900 - Smaller electric vehicle companies were swallowed up quickly over a 2 year period: Electric Carriage and Wagon Co + Pope Manufacturing Co + Riker get absorbed into Electric Vehicle Company. These companies provide cars for the New York City taxi constituency
1900s - Baker Motor Co. produces an electric racing car with top speed of 120 mph.
1907 - Bank crash fatally wounds the financial side of Electric Vehicle Company
1912 - End of the reign of electric cabs in New York City. Now the demand supporting the electric car industry is greatly weakened.
1916 - Baker Motor Company stops production
1916 - First hybrid electric car is made.
1970s - After the price of gasoline hits record highs the interest in electric cars is rekindled. The US Department of Energy funds efforts to try to make a cost effective electric car.
1982 - First modern hybrid car is made at GE Research Lab. It is computer controlled and is the ancestor of current commercial hybrid cars.
1989 - Audi creates a hybrid called the "Duo" with NiCad batteries and a 5 cylinder gas engine. The vehicle never sees mainstream production
1995 - Toyota debuted a hybrid concept car at the Tokyo Motor Show
1997 - The first Prius went on sale in the Japanese market.
1997 - Audi creates the Duo III and it makes it to series production
1998 - Nissan produces 200 of the Altra EV from 1998-2002
2008 - Tesla Motors sells the Tesla Roadster with a 200+ mile range
2009 - Ford Fusion hybrid is released
2010 - Nissan Leaf all electric car sold. Synchronous electric motor used on front axle.
2010 - Mercedes-Benz collaborates with Tesla Motor Company to produce the A-Class E-Cell
2011 - Chevy Volt, hybrid car, sold in US market 25-50 mile range
Leading up to the electric car some components had to be invented:
1821 - Michael Faraday creates the first weak experimental electromagnet
1831 -Joseph Henry builds the first powerful electromagnet (the main component of the electric motor)
1834 - Thomas Davenport develops the first electric motor for commercial use. He creates an electric miniature train and model car. His inventions fail to become profitable since he was using unreliable primitive batteries and the DC dynamo had not been invented yet.
1851 - The US Senate funds an experimental electric railway from Washington DC to Baltimore. It was engineered byCharles Grafton Page. The effort fails when the batteries crack and coils overheat. Steam still proves to be more practical at this point.
1883 - England opens the first commercially successful electric tram/trolley engineered by Magnus Volk
1886 - Frank Sprague invents the first practical DC motor, it is capable of consistent speed under varying loads and does not creating sparks
1887 - Frank Sprague uses his DC motor in trolley systems in North America
1897 - Electric cars first used in commercial use as taxis in New York City. They were built by the Electric Carriage and Wagon Company of Philadelphia.
1897 - Baker Motor Vehicle Company founded by Walter C. Baker. Baker made a vehicle with 100 miles range on a charge and top speeds of 22 mph.
1900 - 38% of US automobiles are powered by electricity
1900 - Ferdinand Porsche builds electric cars with max speeds up to 37 mph. Includes the first hybrid electric car and first all wheel drive car.
1900 - Smaller electric vehicle companies were swallowed up quickly over a 2 year period: Electric Carriage and Wagon Co + Pope Manufacturing Co + Riker get absorbed into Electric Vehicle Company. These companies provide cars for the New York City taxi constituency
1900s - Baker Motor Co. produces an electric racing car with top speed of 120 mph.
1907 - Bank crash fatally wounds the financial side of Electric Vehicle Company
1912 - End of the reign of electric cabs in New York City. Now the demand supporting the electric car industry is greatly weakened.
1916 - Baker Motor Company stops production
1916 - First hybrid electric car is made.
1970s - After the price of gasoline hits record highs the interest in electric cars is rekindled. The US Department of Energy funds efforts to try to make a cost effective electric car.
1982 - First modern hybrid car is made at GE Research Lab. It is computer controlled and is the ancestor of current commercial hybrid cars.
1989 - Audi creates a hybrid called the "Duo" with NiCad batteries and a 5 cylinder gas engine. The vehicle never sees mainstream production
1995 - Toyota debuted a hybrid concept car at the Tokyo Motor Show
1997 - The first Prius went on sale in the Japanese market.
1997 - Audi creates the Duo III and it makes it to series production
1998 - Nissan produces 200 of the Altra EV from 1998-2002
2008 - Tesla Motors sells the Tesla Roadster with a 200+ mile range
2009 - Ford Fusion hybrid is released
2010 - Nissan Leaf all electric car sold. Synchronous electric motor used on front axle.
2010 - Mercedes-Benz collaborates with Tesla Motor Company to produce the A-Class E-Cell
2011 - Chevy Volt, hybrid car, sold in US market 25-50 mile range