One might be surprised that the EV dates all the way back to the 1800s. In fact, in its heyday, there were 4,192 cars made in the U.S. and 28-percent of them were electric! Here are some defining moments from New York City's first fleet of electric taxis to setting the very first land speed record.

Carriage Built in 1830s Uses Non-Rechargeable Batteries

Robert Anderson built a crude electric carriage in the 1830s using non-rechargeable batteries. It eventually became the rechargeable Detroit Electric (1907 - 1939) which in one test run achieved a 211.3 mile range and a top speed of 20 MPH. It was mainly marketed to women who didn't want to bother with hand cranking an engine.

Blacksmith Builds First Electric Rail Car in 1834

Thomas Davenport, a blacksmith in Vermont, read about John Henry's electric motor in Silliman's Journal. He played with the concept and made it spin. Davenport saw his invention as a replacement for steam to drive locomotives, and used it to make a small model electric rail car in 1834.

French-Built Electric Car Sets First Word Land Speed Record

In 1881 Charles Jeantaud, along with help from battery-inventor Camille Faure, built France's first electric vehicle. A formidable vehicle weighing over 3,000lbs that set the first land speed record going 39.24 mph.

College Dropout Builds Electric Trike in Parent's Basement

In 1884 Andrew L. Riker dropped out of school and started experimenting with electric motors and a Coventry bicycle. The result was a two-passenger trike that had a 25 mile range using a series of lead-sulfuric acid batteries. Like the bikes of that time it had a tubular steel frame, wire wheels, and pneumatic tires.

First Successful American-Built Electric Car Seats Six

In 1890 William Morrison built America's first successful electric car. It was a six-passenger wagon capable of reaching a speed of 14 miles per hour.

Electric Car That Inspires America's First Electric Car Company

Designed and built in 1894 the Electrobat was a small version of a battery streetcar, it was a slow, heavy, impractical vehicle with steel tires to support the immense weight of its large lead battery. But it did lead to the Morris & Salom Electric Carriage and Wagon Company, the first electric car company in America.

New York City Gets a Fleet of Electric Taxi Cabs

In 1897 the first electric taxis hit the streets of New York City. Amazingly, NYC is just now starting to offer hybrid and electric taxis again.

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