The Untold Story Of The First Electric Car

The real story of the untold story of the first electric car is far weirder, older, and more consequential than the version most people know.

The year was 1837, and the world was on the cusp of a transportation revolution. While the internal combustion engine was still a distant dream, a little-known Scottish inventor named Robert Anderson had quietly built the world's first fully-functional electric car – a remarkable feat that would forever change the course of automotive history.

Anderson's creation was a remarkable feat of engineering, powered by a crude lead-acid battery and a simple electric motor. Surprisingly nimble and surprisingly fast for its time, the "Scotsman's Car" as it came to be known, could reach top speeds of up to 4 miles per hour and had a range of around 40 miles on a single charge.

But Anderson's invention was just the beginning of the electric car's long and storied history. In the years that followed, a number of other pioneers would pick up where he left off, refining and improving the design of the electric car. French inventor Gustave Trouvé, for example, built an electric tricycle in 1881 that could reach speeds of up to 12 miles per hour, while American inventor William Morrison unveiled his "electromobile" in 1890, which could transport up to six passengers.

By the turn of the 20th century, electric cars were becoming increasingly popular, especially among the wealthy and the environmentally-conscious. Companies like the Electric Vehicle Company and the Electric Carriage and Wagon Company were producing high-end electric vehicles for the elite, while the Detroit Electric Car Company was churning out more affordable models for the masses.

"The electric car is the car of the future. It's going to change the world, mark my words." - Henry Ford, 1914

Even Henry Ford, the father of the internal combustion engine, recognized the potential of the electric car. In 1914, he famously declared that "the electric car is the car of the future" and predicted that it would "change the world." But despite Ford's endorsement and the growing popularity of electric vehicles, the internal combustion engine ultimately won out, thanks in large part to the discovery of vast oil reserves in the United States and the resulting drop in gasoline prices.

But the story of the electric car is not just about transportation – it's also a story of innovation, perseverance, and the enduring power of human ingenuity. From Robert Anderson's pioneering efforts in the 1830s to the cutting-edge technology of today, the electric car has always been a symbol of our collective drive to push the boundaries of what's possible.