Despite a few early attempts made during the oil crises, many people associate hybrid and electric cars with modern technology, but in reality, that couldn’t be further from the truth. The same high oil prices that currently are leading us to electric and hybrid vehicles now were also a factor over a hundred years ago. While the electric cars of the past were not able to travel great distances, the roads outside of cities were often of poor quality, so few people traveled them anyway. It was a decrease in the price of oil and an increase in the quality of roads that opened the door to gas powered cars taking over.

Looking back, we see some amazing things. In 1899, it was a Belgian designed electric car known as “La Jamais Contente” that held the land speed record of 68 miles per hour. While France and England were early adopters of electric vehicle technology, in 1897, there was a fleet of electric taxis traveling the streets of New York city. These early cars were often little more than horse carriages (minus the horses) that were propelled by electric engines.

Compared to the other models of early last century, electric cars had many advantages over their competitors. Steam powered cars (believe it or not, these did exist) took long period of time to warm up and frequently required more water. Gas powered cars were very loud, and without the comfort technology we take for granted, they were constantly vibrating and shaking. Comparatively, electric cars were quiet and efficient. Given the short commutes many people had, electric cars were by far the superior vehicle choice, and it showed, as they outsold gas powered ones at several points!

However, as gas dropped in price and the roads improved, electric car technology fell of the radar until the oil crisis many decades later.