What Brand Was the Earliest Electric Car?
2 Answers
The world's first electric vehicle was a three-wheeled car invented by French inventor Gustave Trouvé (1839-1902) in 1881. This tricycle was created by integrating an improved lead-acid battery and a Siemens electric motor, both developed around the same year, onto a British-made tricycle. The first electric vehicle successfully underwent a test run on Rue Valois in central Paris in April 1881, becoming the world's first electric car and also the first vehicle powered by an electric motor. The world's first mass-produced electric car was developed by Britain's Thomas Parker (1843-1915). He operated a company manufacturing lead-acid batteries and, since 1883, also produced generators, providing the generators and equipment for Britain's first electric tram. In 1894, based on this technology, Thomas Parker successfully developed the world's first mass-produced four-wheeled electric vehicle.
I've always been particularly fascinated by delving into automotive historical anecdotes, and the topic of the earliest electric vehicle brands excites me immensely. Tracing back, the earliest was likely the American brand Detroit Electric in the late 19th century, which began mass-producing electric vehicles as early as 1907. At that time, electric cars were incredibly popular because they were easy to start, quiet, and emitted no exhaust fumes, making them a favorite among urban residents. Early models could only reach speeds of 20-30 kilometers per hour, with a range of about 50 kilometers, powered by heavy and cumbersome lead-acid batteries. Unfortunately, this golden era didn't last long. With the widespread availability of petroleum and the mass production of Ford's Model T, gasoline cars became cheaper and more convenient to refuel, gradually pushing electric vehicles out of the market. Looking back now, the inventions of these pioneers laid the foundation for modern electric brands like Tesla, and their environmental ethos has continued to this day.
