Timeline: The History of Electric Vehicles

It’s no secret that electrification is all the rage in the automotive industry these days, but the history of electric vehicles might go back way further than you realize. In fact, did you know that the first small-scale electric cars date all the way back to 1828? Yes, 1828, when roads were still mostly utilized by horse and buggies. We thought it’d be fun to take a look back through the history of EVs and give you a full timeline of the events that paved the way for Lexus to introduce the EVs we’re so excited about today.

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1800s

As we mentioned, the first small-scale electric vehicles were introduced starting in 1828 and through 1835 by inventors right here in the United States, as well as in Hungary and the Netherlands. Hower, from 1832 to 1839, the first practical EV was actually built in Scotland by a man named Robert Anderson. The technology was improved and worked on over the next 60 years, to the point that in 1899 they really started becoming popular thanks to how much quieter and better smelling they were, plus easier to drive, than other cars of the period.

Early 1900s

It was in 1901 that Porsche introduced the very first hybrid electric vehicle, nearly a century before the Prius. This certainly helped skyrocket sales of EVs throughout the early 1900s. In fact, from 1900 to 1912, a third of all vehicles sold during that span were electric. However, the advancement of internal combustion engines during the early 1900s eventually led to the downfall of EVs. By the 1930s, gasoline was so inexpensive that it all but put the final nail in the coffin of the EV.

1960s-70s

Although it took a couple of decades, the electric vehicle was eventually resurrected in 1966. Thanks in large part to high oil prices from the OPEC embargo, coupled with endorsements from the U.S. Congress regarding the environmental effects of electric driving, interest was greatly newed through 1973. It didn’t hurt that the first manned vehicle on the moon, NASA’s lunar rover, ran on electricity in 1971. Then in ‘73 and ‘74, the next generation of EVs were introduced by General Motors and Sebring-Vanguard.

1990s

Starting in 1990 and right up until 1996, a bunch of automakers began modifying their most popular nameplates with electric versions – sound familiar? Then, in 1997, the very first mass-produced hybrid electric vehicle was born, followed by said mass-production in 2000 as the model was released worldwide, leading to the advent of hybrid models throughout the next several years. We’re talking, of course, about Lexus parent company Toyota’s Prius.

2006

It was in 2006 when all-electric vehicles saw its next major breakthrough, as a little company called Tesla Motors started in Silicon Valley. This pushed other automakers to speed up their timelines, accelerating the speed at which EV technology began advancing.

Things really started picking up from here, and we could go into greater detail, but that history is a lot fresher in our minds. If you have any questions about EVs where Lexus is concerned, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We cannot wait to see what the future holds!