Did you know that some of the very first automobiles were electric? The concept of the electric car is often considered to be the product of an oil-weary culture, but it is actually an original automobile concept. Basically an electric carriage without the horse, these first electric vehicles were developed in Europe and evolved into efficient, high-capacity, battery-operated autos by the early 1880s. These electric cars did not require gear-shifting, and were quieter and cleaner than the simultaneous gas-powered, internal combustion engine cars.
So what happened?
For one thing, American roads got longer and people needed cars that could be driven for longer distances. Another factor was the decline in American oil prices, making gas-powered cars cheaper to run. And Henry Ford developed the assembly line for manufacturing his gas-powered autos, making the gasoline car even more affordable.