Not Our First Rodeo
Learning from the mistakes of our past and we won’t let gas spoil the fun this time
Electric vehicles (EVs) have been around for almost two centuries now, but their journey to the mainstream has been a bit bumpy. In many ways, the adoption curve of electric cars is similar to other new technologies that have hit the market in recent years, such as smartphones and renewable energy…and yes I wrote this blog post using Chat-GPT so expect a little banality.
The first electric car was invented by a Scottish inventor named Robert Anderson way back in 1837. This early version of an electric car was powered by non-rechargeable primary cells, which made it a bit impractical for everyday use. However, as the technology improved, electric cars became a popular choice in the late 1800s as a cleaner, quieter alternative to gasoline-powered cars. In fact, by 1900, electric cars made up around one-third of all cars on the road in the United States.
But just like any new technology, electric cars faced challenges. The invention of the internal combustion engine and the discovery of abundant oil reserves in the early 20th century quickly made gasoline-powered cars the more popular choice. Electric cars fell out of favor, and it wasn't until the 1990s that they began to make a comeback. This is not our first rodeo with the EV.
Think about it this way: when smartphones first hit the market, they were expensive and only a small group of tech enthusiasts were interested in them. But as the technology improved and prices came down, more and more people saw the benefits of having a mobile device that could do more than just make phone calls. Similarly, early electric cars were expensive and had limited range, which made them impractical for most consumers. But as battery technology has improved and prices have come down, more people are beginning to see the benefits of driving an electric car and it’s not just a car but a computer on wheels with a movable power generator.
Another analogy is the adoption curve of renewable energy. When solar panels and wind turbines first hit the market, they were expensive and not very efficient. But as the technology improved and more governments began to incentivize the use of renewable energy, the adoption curve began to shift. Today, renewable energy sources like solar and wind are becoming more common as people recognize the environmental and economic benefits and as of this writing, 45% of Texas’s electric grid is being generated by wind energy.
Similar to renewables, governments around the world will continue to incentivize the adoption of electric vehicles through rebates, tax credits, and other programs. As these incentives become more widespread, and more people recognize the benefits of driving an electric car, we can expect to see the adoption curve continue to shift at even faster rates.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) introduced the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program in 1990, which required automakers to produce a certain number of zero-emission vehicles, including electric cars. This led to the production of a few electric car models, such as the GM EV1 and the Toyota RAV4 EV, but these cars were ultimately discontinued due to a lack of consumer demand.
But, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, electric vehicles began to gain popularity again in the 2010s. This time, advancements in battery technology and concerns about climate change and air pollution were driving the shift towards electric vehicles. Tesla, founded in 2003, remains one of the most well-known electric car manufacturers, and their cars have helped to blaze the new trails of EVs amongst consumers. Other major automakers, such as Nissan, BMW, and Chevrolet, have also introduced electric car models in recent years but they also remain part of the 2nd wave.
And just like the adoption curve of smartphones and renewable energy, the adoption curve of electric vehicles will likely continue to shift as more people recognize the benefits of driving an electric car. As battery technology continues to improve and prices continue to come down, we can expect to see even more electric cars on the road in the years to come. The third wave is the final wave, the tsunami wave, that renders the ICE the relic of the past as getting a car will default to the notion that you’re buying electric - the way that you say buying a new phone implies it’s the next line in the smartphone line.
So, there you have it, folks. The history of the electric car as told by Chat GPT and a slight influencing hand by yours truly