The electric car doesn't exist since twenty years

What we see today regarding electric vehicles might lead us to think that it's the result of recent maneuvers and ideas, creating an "electric trail" from scratch to convert the planet within 10/20 years. In reality, the history of the electric car is quite fascinating and intricate, beginning hundreds of years ago and continuing to this day.

Indeed, when it comes to attributing the primacy to an innovation that has changed history, it is not easy to trace back to the true pioneer and the first specimen.

The origin of battery-powered vehicles dates back to 1820 when the French physicist André-Marie Ampère discovered the connection between electricity, magnetism, and motion. From this moment on, numerous inventors and engineers began experimenting with electric propulsion, giving rise to a series of innovative vehicles.

The Early Pioneers

One of the early pioneers of the electric car was the American blacksmith Thomas Davenport, who built the first battery-powered electric motor in 1834. In 1888, the renowned Nikola Tesla obtained a patent for the first alternating current electric motor. These inventions were fundamental for the development of the electric car, which began to spread rapidly worldwide.

The Golden Age

At the beginning of the 20th century, the electric car was the preferred choice for many motorists. Electric cars were quiet, produced no pollution, and had greater range compared to gasoline cars. In the first-ever automotive race, the 1894 Paris-Rouen, five out of seventeen vehicles were electric.

The Decline

However, the rise of the electric car was abruptly interrupted by the advent of the internal combustion engine. The gasoline car was more economical, more powerful, and had a greater range than the electric car. Consequently, the electric car began to lose ground, and its popularity began to decline.

The Comeback

In recent years, the electric car has made a comeback, driven by the growing attention to the environment and sustainability. New technologies have improved the performance and range of electric cars, making them an increasingly appealing choice for motorists.

Speed Records

Electric cars have also set numerous speed records. In 1899, the Jamais Contente, an electric car built by the Belgian Camille Jenatzy, reached 105.88 km/h, becoming the first vehicle to exceed 100 km/h. In 2022, the Lotus Evija, an electric car produced by the British automaker Lotus, reached 320 km/h, setting a new world record for a production electric car.

The Future of the Electric Car

The electric car is destined to become increasingly important in the coming years. Governments worldwide are introducing policies to encourage the adoption of electric cars, aiming to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Not only for Agenda 2030 but for a lasting and supportive commitment to try to restore, even in an anthropological way, a connection with nature, to respect it and not to distort it.

Edilfar Rent has an almost entirely electric, modern, and state-of-the-art fleet of cars waiting to be tried! Come visit us at our locations in Milan, Modena, and Rome!