Are you ready for the change?

Have you ever considered investing in an electric car? More and more people are turning to electric vehicles. And for a good reason – they can offer an undeniably unique appeal and countless great benefits, especially as fuel prices climb ever higher. However, the electric car wasn’t always as popular – or as reliable – as it is today. We’ve presented some of the most significant moments in the rise and fall of the electric car to help you understand this unique and complex tale a little more.

The Early Days of Electric

Technically speaking, while we often think of electric cars as a novel and innovative idea, they’re nothing new. In fact, the first-ever electric car that could successfully run was created in the United States, all the way back in 1890. This car was a world apart from the electric cars we know and love today; credit where it was due, this old and rickety model could seat six passengers, but otherwise, it was very uninspiring. With a top speed of just 14mph, you’d genuinely be better buying a horse and carriage.

A few fully electric vehicles were also created through the early and mid 20th century, including the East German electric vans and the iconic British milk floats. Nevertheless, these remained unpractical options for most consumers, usually only running for around 40 miles and trundling at top speeds of just 20mph. Hence, for most consumers, gas-powered vehicles were still the obvious choice.

Still, the early days of modern electric vehicles wouldn’t take off until the latter half of the 20th century – perhaps inspired, in part, by the use of Lunar Roving Vehicles during exploration of the moon back in the 1970s.

The Rise of Modern Electric Cars

While early electric cars were often uninspiring, to say the least, there’s a lot more to love about modern electric vehicles. So many people are now turning to modern electric cars – both for environmentally conscious reasons and to avoid those eye-watering fuel prices.

The first genuine and effective electric cars made their appearance on a more commercial scale in 1999, just before the turn of the century, with the General Motors EV1 model. While the car itself was unpopular, it undeniably inspired further research into the development of modern electric cars. As time went on, Tesla released their first-generation electric car – the Tesla Roadster in 2008.

Other brands began to jump on the EV bandwagon shortly thereafter, including Nissan with its iconic Nissan Leaf in 2010, which would dominate the electric vehicle market for a decade until the launch of the Tesla Model 3 in 2020 – which is hugely popular, with over 1 million cars being sold worldwide.

Of course, it’s not just electric cars that are becoming more popular, though. Hybrid models are also much-loved additions to the electric cars roster. The Toyota Prius and the Hyundai Ioniq both became leading names in the hybrid field during the early days. Hybrid vehicles are quite literally the “best of both worlds” model in many cases – which makes them immensely popular for people who want to make an eco-conscious choice but who aren’t quite ready to make the full switch to an electric vehicle.

The Future of Electric Vehicles

There’s no doubt that the world of electric vehicles is suddenly looking a lot more interesting to all of us. Electric vehicles are becoming much easier to integrate into modern life – they are also becoming much more powerful, more affordable, and more viable from a long-term perspective. Plus, with a commitment for all new cars by 2030 to be electric, there’s not that long left to jump on the bandwagon and embrace electric vehicle technology.

Some of the key players in the development of modern electric cars include Volkswagen, Volvo, Toyota, Renault, Peugeot, Nissan, Mercedes, Honda, Citroen, BMW, and more. However, perhaps the most iconic modern electric vehicle brand has to be Tesla for its fleet of stylish and ultra-luxurious electric cars – you won’t find many people who wouldn’t dream of owning one.

At the end of the day, whether you love them or loathe them, electric vehicles are the way of the future. There really is now more reasons than ever before to consider buying an electric or hybrid car.