Evolution of Automobiles: From 1899 to Present

Early Choices in 1899

Steam-Powered Cars
- Relied on gas-powered boilers
- Long range but required extra water and 30 minutes to heat up
Gasoline Cars
- Required dangerous hand-cranking to start
- Emitted loud noises and foul-smelling exhaust
Battery-Powered Electric Vehicles
- Quick to start, clean, and quiet
- Easy to refuel overnight if electricity was accessible
- By the end of the 19th century, nearly 40% of American cars were electric
- Popular in cities with early electric systems

Battery Issues
- Early batteries were expensive and inefficient
- Inventors like Thomas Edison attempted to improve batteries
- Battery exchange stations were established but insufficient for long trips
- Electric cars were over twice the price of gas-powered ones
Competition from Gasoline Cars
- Oil discoveries reduced gasoline prices
- Advances in internal combustion engines made them more appealing
  - Electric starters eliminated hand-cranking
  - Mufflers reduced noise
  - Rubber engine mounts reduced vibration

1908 Model T by Ford
- Affordable, high-quality gas-powered car
- Captured public imagination
By 1915
- Percentage of electric cars drastically declined
Internal combustion engines dominated for 55 years
- Electric cars became rare except for special-purpose vehicles

US Oil Crisis
- Led to renewed interest in alternative energy sources
1980s Studies
- Linked car emissions to urban smog, prompting reevaluation of electric vehicles
Battery Innovations
- Companies began developing more efficient batteries
  - Introduction of nickel metal hydride and lithium-ion batteries

Hybrid Cars
- Use nickel metal hydride batteries to optimize gas engine efficiency
2008 Tesla Roadster
- First purely electric vehicle with significant range (320 km on a single charge)
- Set new records for electric vehicle performance

Improvements
- Cost, performance, efficiency, and availability have vastly improved
- Electric cars can accelerate faster than gas-powered sports cars
- High upfront costs often lead to long-term savings for drivers
Government Policies
- Focus on reducing climate change
- In Norway, 75% of car sales in 2020 were plug-in electric vehicles
- California's Zero Emission Vehicle mandate and EU's CO2 standards hinder gas vehicle investments

Electric Vehicles Expected to Dominate
- Anticipated replacement of gas-powered vehicles
- Electric cars poised to reclaim their historical place on the road.