Now You See It, Now You Don't!

TellZall's object for May is the Electric Automobile.

Today, nearly every automobile on the road is powered by an internal-combustion engine that runs on a fuel made from petroleum. Both diesel engines, found mainly in trucks, and gasoline engines derive their power from a volatile fuel that explodes under controlled conditions within the engine itself. But in the early days of the automobile, this type of engine was not the most popular choice.

As the nineteenth century entered its final decade (1890s), a number of inventors around the world were hard at work attempting to develop a self-propelled vehicle that could travel over roads and not be bound to tracks like railroad trains. In Europe and in this country, these inventors varied from professional engineers to amateur tinkerers, and they explored a large number of options in trying to build a workable vehicle. By about 1895, a number of these inventors had built road-going, self-propelled vehicles, which soon were dubbed "horseless carriages."

Among the more-important problems to be solved was what power source was to be used to propel the vehicle. The choice came down essentially to three: steam, electric, or internal combustion.

Steam, a type of external-combustion engine, seemed like a natural choice. After all, steam had powered locomotives, boats, and even tractors. The technology was reliable and proven. Steam-powered horseless carriages were powerful - in 1907 a Stanley steamer with a special body reached 197 miles per hour, a record that stood for twenty years! Steam cars were easy to operate, and they were very quiet. The disadvantages for steam included needing frequent stops for water; fear of boiler explosions, which were largely unfounded; the often-lengthy wait required to fire up the boiler and build up steam pressure before the car could operate; and some rather questionable business decisions by steam-car manufacturers.

Internal-combustion automobiles had the advantage of being powerful and ready to go at a moment's notice. They also could travel quite a distance on a relatively small amount of fuel. Their disadvantages included being more complex than either electric- or steam-powered cars to operate; being very noisy; and requiring considerable maintenance.

Electric automobiles seemed to offer real advantages. They were easy to operate. They were ready to go, so long as the battery was charged. They were nearly noiseless, and, to those not well versed in mechanics, they were not as frightening as steam or gasoline machines. The electrics' primary disadvantages were that they could not go far before they needed to have their batteries recharged, and battery maintenance was a constant headache.

Still, the electric horseless carriage caught on more quickly than either of the other two types. In major American cities, electric taxicabs appeared in great numbers in the late 1890s. In 1899 about 90 percent of the taxicabs in New York City were electric. In fact, in that year and the following one, electric automobiles outsold all other types, and their production continued to grow until 1912.

So why aren't electric cars common on today's roads? Several factors led to their demise and to the rise of the internal-combustion automobile. The problems of limited mileage per charge and battery maintenance continued to plague the electric automobile. In addition, electric-car manufacturers made some very unsound business decisions that limited sales, including being unable or unwilling to develop less expensive cars that most Americans could afford.

On the other hand, the manufacturers of gasoline-powered automobiles worked diligently to improve their products and to reduce the costs. Simplified controls and the introduction of the self-starter, invented by Ohioan Charles Kettering and commonly available about 1912, made it possible for more Americans to operate an automobile. Lower prices, exemplified by Henry Ford and his assembly-line-built Model T, made it possible for more Americans to afford an automobile.

By about 1920, nearly all automobiles were powered by internal combustion engines using gasoline for fuel. And the basic design, despite many, many improvements, remains standard today.

But before you count the electric automobile out, look at what is beginning to appear on our streets. Several manufacturers, including Ford, Toyota, and Honda, have introduced "hybrid" automobiles that combine elements of electric and internal combustion power. These cars provide increased fuel economy and less pollution, and more of them are under development. The day of the electric car may be dawning again.