Essay - Electric Vehicles Given the Small Number of Electric Cars that...

Electric Vehicles

Given the small number of electric cars that are located on American roads today, it is surprising to note that some of the first au*****mobiles used non-rechargeable ***** cells. Although these alternative versions offered many advantages over their competitors that ran on gasoline and steam, for a ***** of reasons manufacturers began producing internal combustion engine automobiles in such large numbers that electrical vehicles became a th*****g of the p*****st. In fact, electrical cars have only begun to make a comeb*****ck in recent years. Whether or not they once aga***** gain a maj***** acceptance level is yet ***** be seen.

In the first decades ***** the 1800s, Robert Anderson of Scotland invented a makeshift electric carriage.

Professor Stratingh of Groningen, Holland, followed this new vehicle with a small-scale electric car in 1835. A decade later, both Thomas Davenport of the U.S. and ***** Davidson of Scotland created more successful electric ***** that used non-rechargeable ***** cells. Gaston Plante of France ***** a better stor*****ge battery in 1865, which was improved upon by k*****sman Camille Faure in 1881 (Shacket 25). This enhanced battery allowed electric vehicles to flourish throughout the world. ***** and Great Brita***** became the first countries to support the widespread development of electric vehicles in the late 1800s. At ***** end ***** the 19th Century, a Belgian built electric racing car ***** the name of La Jamais Contente set a ***** record ***** l***** speed of 68 mi*****es per hour (ibid 36).

The ********** c*****me aboard the electric vehicle fad later than the rest ***** the world in the 1890s, after A. L. Ryker and William Morrison built a six-passenger wagon. The Morrison's car could run for 13 straight hours at a speed of 14 miles per hour. However, much ***** the vehicle's success was due to the promotional support of Harold

Sturges, secretary of ***** American Battery Company (Clymer 38). ***** technology may have been different ***** the horse and *****, but the look was the same. The early ***** were noth*****g more than electrified horseless ********** and surreys. The cost ***** high at $2,000, ***** favored the wealthy as owners. The advantages of the electric car had been realized from ***** beginning. Very quiet operation and lack of unpleasant exhaust emissions, especially compared to the steam and gasoline models, made the electric automobile ideal for city use. Its controls were simple enough for a child.

***** the Americ*****ns became inte*****ed, ***** quickly joined the race for newer and better models ***** ways to use the technology. In 1897, the Electric Carriage and Wagon Company ***** Philadelphia introduced the first commercial use of *****se vehicles by developing a fleet of taxis for New York City (Shacket 12).

Most military vehicles ***** driving these vehicles, the U.S. Postal Service began using ********** for delivery and companies such as General Electric started profiting ***** ***** manufacture. General ***** ***** to produce ***** in 1898 and achieved a land speed record for an *****al vehicle that went 39.25