The rise of the electric car

Electric vehicles have been a concept for over 100 years. However, it’s only been recently that the models have started to rise in popularity. Nowadays, there is a much greater focus on protecting our environment, meaning the environmentally-friendly vehicles are beginning to making waves in the motoring industry. It is seeing more companies begin to switch their focus and energy into developing desirable electric vehicles. A prime example is Volkswagen’s record-breaking run at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July 2018.

Here, alongside Lookers, who stock the Volkswagen Up! and the e-Up!, we delve into the history of the electric cars, how they’ve evolved over time, and how they compare when up against their petrol and diesel compatriots.

The history of electric cars

Way back in the 1800s, innovators from the Netherlands, Hungary and the United States toyed with the idea of a battery-powered vehicle. This led to the invention of the electric car. They created small-scale electric cars, but it took until the second half of the 19th century before French and English inventors produced the first practical electric vehicles. Electric cars quickly became popular with the public thanks to their relevant simplicity to drive and their quiet nature; they were perfect for short trips in the city. Thomas Edison worked to develop better batteries for electric vehicles and in 1901, the world’s first hybrid electric car was invented.

In 1920, when it became cheaper to purchase crude oil, sales of electric vehicles declined. Fast forward to the 1990s, though, and environmental regulations brought renewed interest to the models. With a green future becoming a main objective amongst the world’s leaders, it’s anticipated that by 2040 electric cars will account for a third of global sales. In the UK, ministers have been informed that most new cars would need to be electric by 2030 and, with fully autonomous cars due to be rolled out in the coming years, the industry is well on its way to hitting this target, especially as motoring giants are producing more and more electric versions of their fleet.

How have electric cars improved?

When people state that electric vehicles are already changing the world, they have to realise that this is only the beginning. The world is realising that we have to move away from a fossil fuel-driven economy towards one that is more sustainable as we attempt to bring a halt to climate change. Transportation can, and is, one area that must be focused on. In 2017, more than half of cars sold in Norway were electric, while China continues to lead the way in a market that keeps growing. In fact, with sales of electric cars rising each month, Volkswagen has announced a $10 billion investment in the country to develop relevant technology and has set out plans to manufacture 1.5 million electric vehicles by 2025.

There are also lithium-sulphur and solid-state devices in development in a bid to keep improving the life of a car battery. Also, the number of charging points available in the UK is on the rise, quickly increasing by over 5,000 between 2016 and 2017. It’s these two developments that are leading the way in the electric car revolution.

Commercial vehicles aren’t the only ones witnessing such improvements, either. Spectators at the 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed were treated to a record-breaking run as the VW ID R, fresh from breaking the record for the fastest run up the Pikes Peak international Hill Climb, smashed the official hill climb record for electric vehicles by 3.5 seconds. This, on top of the rise of the enthralling Formula E series, shows just how far these automobiles are coming.

How do they compare to petrol and diesel cars?

The price of electric cars is steadily falling. Thanks to rules that are being introduced to limit the kind of vehicles allowed into major cities, electric cars are becoming more mainstream. Electric cars, since they have very few moving parts, in theory allow for fewer issues to arise. This means that on the whole, servicing your electric car should be cheaper than a petrol or diesel car. However, the range you achieve from an electric car, although increasing as batteries improve, isn’t as good as what you’d receive from a full tank of petrol or diesel.

Apart from the environmental benefits, most drivers will only buy an electric car at present if they’re type of driving suits it. However, given time and with constant technological advancements you can expect the power and range of electric cars to improve, meaning the rise of the electric vehicle in the 21st century is one that looks like gaining even greater moment over the coming years.