The Early Electric Cars

What happened

Around 1900 electric cars were among the most popular vehicles on the road, prized for being quiet, clean, and easy to drive compared with noisy, hand-cranked petrol cars. But cheap oil, the electric starter, and above all Henry Ford's inexpensive mass-produced petrol cars soon pushed electric vehicles into a long decline.

Why it matters

The early popularity — and swift eclipse — of the electric car set a pattern that would not be reversed for a century, until concerns over oil and pollution revived it.

Sources

• U.S. Department of Energy. The History of the Electric Car · Reputable source