When most people think of electric vehicles (EVs), they picture modern machines: sleek Teslas, futuristic city cars, or the latest battery-powered SUVs. To many, EVs seem like a cutting-edge response to 21st-century problems—new technology for a new era.
But the truth is far more surprising.
Electric vehicles have been around for well over a century. In fact, they were pioneers of motoring long before the rise of the internal combustion engine. Today’s EV boom is not so much a beginning as a comeback. And understanding this forgotten history offers a valuable perspective on where electric transport is going—and where it’s already been.
Early Sparks: The 19th Century
Electric transport has its roots in the early 1800s, when inventors first began experimenting with battery-powered carriages and trams. By the 1880s, practical electric vehicles were beginning to appear on the streets of major cities.
One of the earliest documented electric cars was developed by Gustave Trouvé in France in 1881—a tricycle fitted with an electric motor and non-rechargeable batteries. Shortly afterwards, British engineer Thomas Parker, who was also instrumental in electrifying London’s Underground, developed his own electric vehicle using rechargeable lead-acid batteries.
By the turn of the 20th century, electric vehicles were in their first golden age.
The Early 1900s: EVs Take the Lead
In the early 1900s, electric vehicles were popular, respected, and commercially successful—particularly in cities. They were quiet, clean, and easy to operate compared to noisy, crank-started petrol engines. Electric taxis could be found in London, Paris, and New York. Department stores used electric vans for local deliveries. And companies like Baker Electric and Detroit Electric (in the U.S.) were producing elegant electric saloons, sometimes driven by society’s elite.
Electric cars in this era were often seen as the ideal urban transport solution—especially for women, thanks to their simplicity and lack of smoke or fumes. In fact, Clara Ford, wife of Henry Ford, reportedly drove a Detroit Electric while her husband produced petrol-powered cars.
The Rise (and Rise) of Petrol
So, what happened?
Three things:
-
Range and speed limitations: Early EVs could rarely exceed 20–30 miles per charge and were slower than their petrol counterparts.
-
Oil became cheap and abundant, particularly after major discoveries and the building of petrol stations.
-
The electric starter motor was invented, eliminating the need to crank-start petrol cars—a major advantage EVs had enjoyed up until that point.
Add to this Henry Ford’s revolutionary mass production of the Model T, and suddenly petrol cars were faster, more powerful, and far cheaper than the average EV. The electric car, once a serious contender, faded into the background.
Silent Service: Mid-20th Century EVs
Although electric cars largely disappeared from the public eye, electric utility vehicles continued to play a quiet but vital role throughout the mid-20th century. Most famously, milk floats—slow, sturdy, battery-powered delivery vans—became a staple of British life. Electric forklifts, warehouse tugs, and even airport service vehicles carried on the EV tradition out of sight.
A few niche experiments persisted in the car world, particularly during the oil crises of the 1970s. Britain’s own Enfield 8000, a small electric city car built on the Isle of Wight, was years ahead of its time but hampered by high costs and limited range.
The Modern Resurgence
Fast forward to the early 2000s, and concerns about air pollution, oil dependency and climate change gave electric vehicles a second wind. Tesla’s 2008 Roadster proved that EVs could be desirable and high-performance. Mainstream manufacturers soon followed, and today the UK sees tens of thousands of new EV registrations each month.
But for many, especially members of the Battery Vehicle Society (founded in 1973), this renaissance is a continuation—not a beginning. Over the past five decades, Society members have kept the electric flame alive through DIY conversions, technical experimentation, and public education—even during times when no one else was listening.
Looking Back to Move Forward
Understanding the long history of electric vehicles helps us challenge the idea that this transition is sudden or untested. It reminds us that EVs aren’t a radical new invention—they’re a refinement of ideas that have been with us for over a century.
It also highlights a vital truth: the success of EVs has always depended on more than just technology. Infrastructure, public policy, affordability and social attitudes have all played a part in their rise—and fall. If we want today’s electric future to stick, we’ll need to keep those lessons in mind.
So the next time you see an EV silently glide past, remember—it’s not a glimpse of tomorrow. It’s a revival of yesterday’s dream.