Electric Vehicles Smithsonian. If you’re looking to buy an electric vehicle, it may be hard to know where to start. Electric Vehicles Smithsonian has everything you need to learn more about electric vehicles and what makes them great. In addition to an overview of the history of EVs, this book provides information. How you can build your own EV, safety concerns, and how EVs work. And reviews on some of the top EVs available on the market today. With an easy-to-read style and no technical jargon, Electric Vehicles. Smithsonian is ideal for anyone looking to get started with electric vehicles. Or want to learn more about the ones they already own.
Table of Contents
History and Future of Electric Vehicle Development
Key Events in Electric Vehicle Technology:
1. Leonardo Da Vinci
2. the 1800s
3. 1900-1950
First Generation Electrics Vehicle
The use of electricity to power machines dates back at least as far as 1828. When American inventor Thomas Davenport constructed a battery-powered electric motor. That used a set of large electromagnets to lift a ton. However, Davenport’s machine was little more than an amusing curiosity. And it wasn’t until several decades later that attempts were made to build practical electric vehicles. In 1835, two inventors from Philadelphia constructed an electric carriage. That looked like something out of Jules Verne. It traveled about three miles per hour for eight hours on a single charge. Then in 1838 Frenchman Barthelemy Thimonnier created cloth operated by an electric motor; however, poor performance meant he abandoned his invention and returned to tailoring.
Second Generation Electrics Vehicle
In 1842, inventor Thomas Davenport (1791–1868) created a prototype electric motor. His electric motor was intended to power small pieces of machinery and soon found use in various industrial applications. It was not until after the Civil War, however, that a serious effort was made to build electric-powered vehicles. In 1881, blacksmith Thomas Parker (1832–1900) demonstrated an electric carriage. That could carry four people at speeds up to 7 miles per hour; however, his invention never went into commercial production. Thus began a long quest for commercially viable electric transportation.
Third Generation Electric Vehicle
Gasoline-powered cars quickly replaced horse-drawn vehicles in early 20th century America. And electric vehicles soon became known as expensive novelties with limited range. The U.S. government offered cash prizes to help advance electric vehicle technology.—One of which went to Thomas Edison for his battery and electric car design in 1895. But he never got around to building it because he lacked faith in its success. Nikola Tesla sold a few of his electric roadsters in 1900–1901, but those were far from profitable endeavors for him. Around that time—and into the 1910s—lead-acid batteries provided by companies like Exide were more commonly used than batteries developed by Westinghouse or General Electric.
Fourth Generation Electrics Vehicle
Although electric vehicles have been on sale in North America since 2008, they still have not caught on. Whether or not these cars will ever become popular is difficult to say. It might depend on whether other countries invest in fourth-generation electrics—whether or not these vehicles will ever catch on. So far, only Ford and Nissan are willing to take that risk. Let’s hope their investments pay off—if they don’t, it might be a long time before we can expect to see anything new and exciting when it comes to electric vehicles.
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