The Decline Of The Electric Vehicle (EV)

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The electric vehicle (EV) was first created more than 100 years ago, and are experiencing an increase in popularity from what first made them popular. The first practical electric car was built during the second half of the 1800’s; the electric car was then introduced to the United States’ market in 1890. By 1900, electric cars accounted for a third of all of the vehicles on the road. At this point, cars were available in steam, gasoline, or electric versions. The electric version was favored because it was quiet, was easy to start, and didn’t release noxious smoke, making it favorable for those living in urban areas. However, Ford’s Model T, released in 1912, dealt a blow to the electric car. The Model T was significantly cheaper than electric cars, and eliminated some of the problems previously found with gasoline powered cars, such as the hand crank starter. There were other factors to the decline of electric cars as well, including an influx in the amount of crude oil the US produced and an increase in filling stations across the country. …show more content…
In the 1960’s-70’s, rising oil prices again sparked interest in alternative fuels and electric vehicles. However, this interest soon died down. In the 1990’s, new federal and state regulations began to again revitalize interest in EV’s. These regulations included transportation emission regulations and the Clean Air Act Amendment. Although there was little public interest in EV’s at this time, scientists and engineers were working to improve EV technology with the assistance of the Energy