There is no one simple answer, but many facts contributed to the rise of the internal combustion engine and decline of the electric motor for the primacy of driving on-road transportation. The real reasons the electric popularity fell are no longer valid.
Early roads had no drainage or roadbeds, moderate rains were enough to turn the pathway into muddy sinkholes. Electric cars, with their heavy loads of batteries, were at a distinct disadvantage in situations which required being pulled, lifted and pried out. Access to generating facility - Significant rural electrification did not even begin until 1930’s. The majority of the population before 1945 in North America was rural. By moving in rural areas we gave up an ideal urban transportation with ZEV technology in favour of one better suited for touring in the countryside (ICE touring car) Internal Combustion Engine. At the start of the 20th century electricity was expensive and gasoline was cheap. In 1900 smog was unknown. Environmental awareness as we know it today was non-existent. The early gasoline cars had to stop frequently to add water for engine cooling. This was not seen as a major disadvantage, and they were generally in need of some minor repair or adjustment after 20 miles of travel. In fact, the gasoline engines were dependent on the existing infrastructure to be viable at all – horse – watering troughs (where they were allowed to do so – the noisy cars often frightened the horses) – to supply the water to cool the heat engines.
So what did in the electric car? Some suggested the electric starter, but it was the radiator. Apparently, before this means of cooling these engines was developed, the heat-producing machines could only run for a matter of minutes before the heat build-up caused damage to the engine. Most importantly, cheap and readily available gasoline as opposed to expensive electricity and a fragmented electrical generating industry and distribution network did not help. Gasoline was effectively a waste product of the petroleum industry at the turn of the 20th century – it was often burned off at the well-head to get to the desired product – kerosene for lamps. Poor roads also put the heavier electrics at a disadvantage. Finally, the decision by Henry Ford to base the first mass-produced and priced for the masses vehicle on the gasoline engine instead of electric dive after discussions with Thomas Edison. Today in 2009, the situation has changed: electricity is cheap relative to gasoline; the road system handles relatively heavier vehicles without difficulty; and smog is killing people.
Early roads had no drainage or roadbeds, moderate rains were enough to turn the pathway into muddy sinkholes. Electric cars, with their heavy loads of batteries, were at a distinct disadvantage in situations which required being pulled, lifted and pried out. Access to generating facility - Significant rural electrification did not even begin until 1930’s. The majority of the population before 1945 in North America was rural. By moving in rural areas we gave up an ideal urban transportation with ZEV technology in favour of one better suited for touring in the countryside (ICE touring car) Internal Combustion Engine. At the start of the 20th century electricity was expensive and gasoline was cheap. In 1900 smog was unknown. Environmental awareness as we know it today was non-existent. The early gasoline cars had to stop frequently to add water for engine cooling. This was not seen as a major disadvantage, and they were generally in need of some minor repair or adjustment after 20 miles of travel. In fact, the gasoline engines were dependent on the existing infrastructure to be viable at all – horse – watering troughs (where they were allowed to do so – the noisy cars often frightened the horses) – to supply the water to cool the heat engines.
So what did in the electric car? Some suggested the electric starter, but it was the radiator. Apparently, before this means of cooling these engines was developed, the heat-producing machines could only run for a matter of minutes before the heat build-up caused damage to the engine. Most importantly, cheap and readily available gasoline as opposed to expensive electricity and a fragmented electrical generating industry and distribution network did not help. Gasoline was effectively a waste product of the petroleum industry at the turn of the 20th century – it was often burned off at the well-head to get to the desired product – kerosene for lamps. Poor roads also put the heavier electrics at a disadvantage. Finally, the decision by Henry Ford to base the first mass-produced and priced for the masses vehicle on the gasoline engine instead of electric dive after discussions with Thomas Edison. Today in 2009, the situation has changed: electricity is cheap relative to gasoline; the road system handles relatively heavier vehicles without difficulty; and smog is killing people.
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