The first electric car in the world: who invented it and how it happened

Electric cars are today perceived as a symbol of innovation and an environmentally friendly future, but few people know that their history goes back over 190 years. The first experiments with electric vehicles began long before the advent of gasoline internal combustion engines. The question is who exactly created the first electric car, remains a subject of debate among technology historians - and here's why.

Many attribute the palm to the Scottish inventor Robert Anderson, which in 1832–1839 developed a prototype of an electric carriage. However, his invention was not self-propelled in the modern sense: it moved on rails and required an external power source. Other researchers point to the Dutchman Sybranda Stratinga, whose battery electric car appeared in 1835, but documentation from those years is fragmentary. But the Frenchman Gustav Truve in 1881 presented the first practical electric car with rechargeable batteries — he is often called the “father” of electric cars.

In this article we will analyze the key milestones of history, separate myths from facts and answer the question: who actually made the first electric car, which could compete with modern analogues?

Early experiments: electric cars before gasoline engines

The idea of using electricity for transportation arose almost simultaneously with the discovery of electricity itself. B 1828 Hungarian physicist Anjos Jedlik created a miniature electric motor and even tested it on a model vehicle. However, his invention was not documented as a full-fledged automobile.

More famous experiment Robert Anderson (1832–1839), who designed electric trolley on non-separable galvanic elements. The main problem was that the batteries of that time were disposable — after discharge they had to be replaced. However, this was the first step towards creating electric self-propelled vehicles.

Interesting fact: in 1834 American blacksmith Thomas Davenport patented an electric motor, which later was installed on a small cart. His invention was the first in the United States, but due to the lack of efficient batteries, it did not become widespread.

• 🔋 1828 — Anjos Jedlik tests an electric motor on a model.
• 🚂 1832–1839 — Robert Anderson creates an electric trolley on rails.
• 🔨 1834 — Thomas Davenport patents an electric motor for transport.

⚠️ Attention: Most early "electric cars" were not self-propelled in the modern sense. They moved on rails or required an external power source, like trolleybuses.

Gustav Trouvé: the first practical electric car (1881)

French engineer Gustav Truve often called father of the electric car - and for good reason. B 1881 he presented at the Paris Electricity Exhibition three-wheeler with rechargeable lead-acid batteries. This was a revolutionary solution:

• 🔄 Batteries could be recharge (as opposed to disposable galvanic cells).
• 🚗 The car was self-propelled and did not require rails.
• ⚡ Engine power was approx. 0.1 hp, but this was enough for short trips.

Trouvé not only designed the car, but also drove it through the streets of Paris, proving the practicality of the idea. His invention inspired other engineers, including Ferdinand Porsche, who later created Lohner-Porsche - the first hybrid car (1900).

Characteristics	Gustav Trouvé's electric car (1881)	Modern electric car (for example, Tesla Model 3)
Battery type	Lead acid	Lithium-ion
Engine power	~0.1 hp	258–450 hp
Maximum speed	~12 km/h	225 km/h
Charging	6–8 hours	30 min (at fast stations)

It was Trouvé who first proved that an electric car could be an autonomous vehicle, and not just an experimental toy.

Electric cars vs. gasoline cars: why electricity lost out in the 20th century

K 1900 electric vehicles accounted for about 30% of all cars in the USA, ahead of gasoline cars. They were quieter, did not require manual starting (unlike internal combustion engines) and did not pollute the air. So why to 1930s have they almost disappeared?

There are several reasons:

• ⛽ Cheap oil - discovery of Texas deposits in 1901 made gasoline affordable.
• 🔌 Lack of infrastructure — it was possible to charge an electric car only at home or at special stations, of which there were few.
• 🚗 Henry Ford and Model T - mass production of gasoline cars (with 1908) made them cheaper.
• 🔋 Low battery capacity - Lead-acid batteries provided a charge only for 50–80 km.

In addition, in 1920s appeared electric starters for gasoline engines, eliminating the main inconvenience - the need to start the engine manually. This finally tipped the scales in favor of the internal combustion engine.

⚠️ Attention: B 1912 Charles Kettering invented the electric starter for gasoline cars. This innovation was one of the key factors in the demise of electric vehicles—gasoline cars were now just as easy to start as electric ones.

Why didn't Tesla become the first mass-market electric vehicle brand?

The first mass brand of electric vehicles in the 21st century was not Tesla, but Nissan Leaf (2010). Tesla Model S (2012) became popular later, but it was it that changed the idea of ​​​​the prestige of electric cars.

Modern revival: from GM EV1 up to Tesla

Interest in electric vehicles has begun to revive in 1990s, when manufacturers faced tightening environmental regulations. Became a pioneer General Motors with the model EV1 (1996), which accelerated to 130 km/h and had a power reserve 140–220 km. However, the project was closed in 2003 - officially due to low demand, but many accused oil companies of lobbying.

The real breakthrough came with the advent Tesla Roadster (2008) - the first production electric vehicle powered by lithium-ion batteries. Its creator Elon Musk, set a goal to make electric cars fast, stylish and long-range. Today Tesla is the market leader, but its competition is:

• 🚘 Nissan Leaf - the best-selling electric car in the world (since 2010).
• 🔋 BYD - a Chinese giant that has overtaken Tesla in sales in 2022.
• ⚡ Lucid Air - an electric car with a record power reserve (837 km according to the EPA).

Nowadays, electric cars are back at the peak of popularity thanks to:

1. Environmental standards (for example, Euro 7).
2. Development of a network of charging stations (Tesla Supercharger, Ionity).
3. Reduced battery costs (by 89% since 2010).

Little-known facts: who else claims to be the inventor?

In addition to Gustav Trouvé and Robert Anderson, there are several other names associated with the creation of the first electric vehicles:

1. Sybrand Strating (1835) - Dutch professor who built an electric carriage. The documentation has been lost, but references can be found in newspapers of that time.
2. Gaston Plante (1859) - Frenchman who invented lead acid battery, without which electric cars would not be possible.
3. Andre-Bolivar Touraine (1881) - another French engineer who worked on an electric car independently of Trouvé.
4. Ferdinand Porsche (1900) - created Lohner-Porsche, the first hybrid with a gasoline engine and electric motors in the wheels.

It's interesting that in 1899 Belgian racer Camille Zhenatzi by electric car La Jamais Contente first in the world to overcome the speed limit in 100 km/h. His record lasted for several years!

⚠️ Attention: Many of the "first electric cars" were rather prototypesthan production cars. For example, Flocken Elektrowagen (1888) is considered the first German electric car, but was produced in a single copy.

Myths about electric cars: what's wrong with popular statements?

There are many myths surrounding the history of electric vehicles. Let's look at the most common ones:

Myth 1: “Electric cars only appeared in the 21st century.”

Reality: The popularity of electric cars peaked in 1900–1920, when they competed with gasoline and steam engines.

Myth 2: "Only Tesla made electric cars popular."

Reality: Nissan Leaf (2010) and Chevy Volt (2010) came out earlier Tesla Model S (2012). Tesla simply managed to create a cult around itself.

Myth 3: "Early electric cars were slow and unreliable."

Reality: B 1899 electric car La Jamais Contente developed 105 km/h - for that time it was a fantastic speed!

Myth 4: "Gasoline cars have always been better."

Reality: B 1900 electric cars were superior to gasoline cars in terms of comfort (no vibrations, no need to turn the handle to start). They only lost because of infrastructure and the price of oil.

The future of electric vehicles: what awaits us?

Today, electric cars are experiencing a rebirth. K 2030 many countries are planning ban the sale of new gasoline cars (Norway - from 2026, EU - with 2035). What awaits us in the near future?

• 🔋 Solid State Batteries - they are safer and fit into 2 times more energythan lithium-ion.
• ⚡ Charges in 5 minutes - companies like StoreDot Such technologies are already being tested.
• 🤖 Autonomous electric vehicles — Tesla, Waymo and others are working on fully driverless cars.
• ♻️ Battery recycling - to 2030 planned to be recycled 95% components batteries.

However, challenges remain:

• 🌍 Lithium and cobalt mining — environmental and ethical problems.
• 💰 High starting price (although EVs are cheaper to run in the long run).
• ⚡ Lack of charging stations in some regions.

However, analysts predict that by 2040 70% of all cars sold will be electric.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the history of electric vehicles

🔹 Who made the first electric car with a battery?

First practical electric car with rechargeable batteries created Gustav Truve in 1881. He used lead-acid batteries that could be recharged multiple times.

🔹 Why did electric cars lose to gasoline ones in the 20th century?

Main reasons:

1. Cheap oil after the discovery of fields in Texas (1901).
2. The emergence of an electric starter for gasoline cars (1912), which eliminated the main inconvenience of the internal combustion engine.
3. Low battery capacity (power reserve up to 80 km).
4. Mass production of gasoline cars (for example, Ford Model T).

🔹 Which electric car was the fastest in the 19th century?

La Jamais Contente (1899) is a torpedo-shaped electric car that was the first to overcome the milestone in 100 km/h (more precisely, 105.88 km/h). It was created by a Belgian racer Camille Zhenatzi.

🔹 When did the first hybrid car appear?

The first hybrid with a gasoline engine and electric motors created Ferdinand Porsche in 1900 - it was a model Lohner-Porsche. It had motors in wheels and batteries that were charged from a gasoline generator.

🔹 What electric cars were produced in the USSR?

In the USSR they experimented with electric cars, but only mass-produced:

• Electrophaeton NAMI-750 (1941) - for mail and taxi.
• RAF-2203 "Latvia" (1970s) - electric minibus.
• VAZ-2702 (Electro-Lada) (1980s) - experimental models based on the Niva.

However, due to the low capacity of Soviet batteries and the lack of infrastructure, the projects were not developed.