Tesla Roadster Unveiled
Tesla unveiled the Roadster, the first all-electric sports car with over 200 miles of range
July 19, 2006
Electric Cars Are Older Than You Think
The first practical electric vehicle was built in the 1880s, long before gasoline cars dominated the roads. In 1884, English inventor Thomas Parker built a working electric car in London. By the 1890s and early 1900s, electric vehicles were actually more popular than gasoline cars in the United States. They were quieter, easier to start, and didn't require hand-cranking like early gas engines did.
Why Gas Won (For a While)
Electric cars lost their lead once Henry Ford's Model T made gasoline vehicles affordable for average families. Gasoline cars could also travel much farther on a single tank than early electric cars could on a battery charge. The discovery of large oil reserves made fuel cheap and widely available. Electric cars faded to the margins for most of the 20th century, appearing mainly as golf carts and small industrial vehicles.
The Electric Comeback
Interest in electric vehicles revived in the 1990s amid growing concern about air pollution. GM released the EV1 in 1996, but the program was controversial and short-lived. California's zero-emission vehicle mandates pushed automakers to invest more seriously. Then Tesla's success in the 2000s and 2010s triggered a global shift. Today, millions of electric vehicles are sold every year, and most major countries have set targets to phase out gasoline-powered cars entirely. Check our countdown tool to track future EV milestones.