The History and Future of Electric Mobility

Are Electric Vehicles a New Thing?

The world of automotive is always changing. Indeed, with over a century of history under its belt, the auto industry has certainly progressed to provide vehicles that drivers of the past could only dream of. 

When it comes to electric vehicles, there have certainly been some drivers in the past who may have dreamed of an electric vehicle future someday. That said, electric vehicles aren’t really a new thing. Many people think they are because, until the last several years, they haven’t really risen in popularity and capability the way gasoline-powered vehicles have. But, that doesn’t mean the concept is new.

Understanding the History of Electric Vehicles

In fact, the first electric car came about in the 1800s, before auto transportation had really taken off. In fact, New York City even had a fleet of electric taxi vehicles. The popularity of electric vehicles at this time didn’t make up the majority of models sold but did represent a strong percentage of the vehicle population on the roads.

As electric car popularity only increased in the early 20th Century, we have to ask the question, why didn’t they become our main source of transportation? Well, it is the same reason that steam vehicles never took off at the time, and the answer is that they just weren’t practical.

While electric vehicles had more benefits than steam-powered models, they both struggled when it came to range. Even so, the quiet operation still made electric cars great for city driving, so why didn’t they hang on? Well, they were also impractical from a financial standpoint.

Once the Model T came on the scene, a gasoline-powered car was simply easier to come by and more affordable for the average driver. Though electric cars had their uses, they couldn’t overcome the budget-friendly price of the Model T and other cars that came after. 

What to Expect From EVs in the Future

Of course, electric cars never fully died. They would still pop up here and there throughout the 20th Century, but electric mobility never really took off for the average driver until developments in hybrid models that could combine the best of both worlds.

Now, however, we are at a point where the cost and practicality of electric models can compete with the gasoline-powered vehicles that dominated most of automotive history. The future of automotive is indeed electric. EV sales doubled in 2021, and we don’t expect that to slow down. Many automakers are committed to offering a range of electrically-powered vehicles now and in the near future.

[Read more: The Top Trends Shaping Automotive in 2023]

If you’d like to learn more about the future of electric vehicles as it pertains to the Buick and GMC lineups, contact us at Buick GMC of Rochester today.