Early 20th Century Was the Golden Age for Electric Cars

Electric cars are making a strong comeback from the early 20th century, which was the golden age for these vehicles.

Electric cars were the dominant form of transportation then, before being overtaken by gasoline-powered vehicles in the mid-1920s.

The car in the photo is a Columbia Electric Victoria Phaeton, a type of electric vehicle first produced in 1905. Bought new, a car like this would have cost $1,600 in 1908, or around $44,000 in modern terms.

Columbia was known for its electric vehicles, which were popular during the early days of the automotive industry when gasoline and electric cars competed. Electric vehicles were particularly favored for their quiet operation and lack of emissions.

The Columbia Electric Victoria Phaeton boasted 24 battery cells, three forward gears as well as two in reverse, and could reach top speeds of up to 15 miles/hour (24km/h).

Unlike many cars of this period, it still had a carriage-based design. Without a steering wheel or accelerator pedal, the speed was controlled by a stick held in the left hand.

Meanwhile, the driver would steer the car like a boat using a tiller. The brakes were then split over two pedals, with one meant for parking and the other for slowing down.

The pioneer automakers

Several other electric cars gained prominence in the 1920s, including the Detroit Electric (1907-1939) which produced the Model D, known for its stylish design and comfortable ride.

Others were Baker Electric (1899-1914), a pioneer that produced a variety of models, including the Model 36, which was popular among taxicab companies and Rover Electric (1904-1940), a British automaker that produced the 8hp model, which was known for its performance and range.

These electric cars were popular among urban dwellers and those who valued their ease of operation and environmental friendliness. However, their limited range and the increasing affordability of gasoline-powered cars led to their decline in the mid-1920s.

Spectacular comeback

Several factors contributed to the decline of electric cars in the 1920s. The development of the internal combustion engine revolutionized the automotive industry, and mass production of gasoline-powered cars made them more affordable than electric cars.

The expansion of road infrastructure made the limited range of electric cars a major disadvantage. The discovery of large oil reserves in the Middle East made gasoline more plentiful and affordable, which further eroded the competitiveness of electric cars.

Move forward to modern times, and electric vehicles have made an impressive comeback. A total of 14 percent of all new cars sold were electric in 2022, up from 9 percent in 2021 and less than 5 percent in 2020.

Electric vehicle sales may increase from 1 percent of the global share in 2016 to more than 35 percent by 2030. As of July 2022, the global EV market size was $280 billion and was expected to grow to $1 trillion by 2026.

Related: Global Sales of Electric Cars Expected to Leap 35% this Year