Electric Cars
By: Gilliana Gaines
Electric Cars
- An electric car is an automobile propelled by 1 or more electric motors.
- 1st electric car came in 1880's
- Popular in late 19th century and early 20th century
- Advances in internal combustion engine technologies and cheap mass production of gas vehicles led to decline of electric cars.
Invention
Rechargeable batteries provided viable means for storing electricity. They weren't created until 1859, with the invention of the lead-acid battery by a French physicist. Thomas Parker, who is responsible for innovations in London, built the 1st practical production of the electric car. An alternate contender as the world's 1st electric car was the German Flocken Elektrowagen, built in 1888.
Popularity
Electric cars were mainly popular in the late 19th century and early 20th century. People started wanting to help the environment more and began to buy these cars.
Decline
The decline of the electric cars came mostly from fear. Many consumers were afraid they would run out of fuel in the middle of nowhere. Also, the mass production of gas cars and now hybrid cars, made the electric cars seem like a price worth nothing
Pro and Con
Pro
- Sales are up on the electric cars- data shows in 2013 vehicle sales are up compared to the same period late year.
- There is going to be more production of the electric car on the way
- Gas prices just keep increasing
Con
- Electric Cars still come with many challenges-many consumers feel safer with a gas-powered and hybrid cars
- Infrastructure hasn't adapted in electric cars yet.
Bottom Line
The electric vehicle market is still very young, and bound to have problems while in the process of growing. Despite this, their are significant challenges on charging and popularity. Consumer confidence is increasing and more models are going into showrooms. Electric cars continue adding market share at the expense of their traditional counterparts.