Electric vehicles that came before Tesla and are largely forgotten

Cars that sparked a revolution

Before Tesla made electric cars popular, inventors were dreaming big and experimenting with early EVs. These vehicles were slow, heavy, and limited in range, but they laid the groundwork for today’s electric revolution.

From tiny city runabouts to moon rovers, engineers pushed boundaries and tested new ideas. Even if most people never saw them, each vehicle played a role in shaping the electric cars we know and love today.

The Flocken Elektrowagen

In 1888, the Flocken Elektrowagen rolled out in Germany, powered by a single 1-horsepower motor. It utilized a 0.9 kW motor with a belt drive and reportedly achieved a speed of approximately 15 km/h (9 mph).

The car resembled a horse-drawn carriage and was propelled by a leather belt that drove the rear wheels. Although slow by today’s standards, it showed that electric motors could successfully move a vehicle and hinted at a future of electric transportation.

Morris & Salom Electrobat

America’s first practical electric car was created in 1894 by Henry Morris and Pedro Salom. Later versions utilized two 1.5-hp motors (approximately 3 hp total) and achieved a range of roughly 25 miles per charge.

The vehicle weighed more than 1,800 pounds due to its heavy lead-acid batteries, making it far from lightweight. It helped seed one of New York’s first electric taxi fleets, supported by an early battery-swap depot.

Lohner-Porsche Hybrids

Ferdinand Porsche made electric history in 1898 by designing wheel-hub motors that powered each car with up to 14 horsepower. These cars could travel about 30 miles, which was impressive for the time.

By 1902, Porsche combined gasoline and electric power to create the first hybrid vehicle. This innovation demonstrated that engineers were already considering cars that could travel farther and faster using electricity.

Detroit Electric’s legacy

Founded in 1907, Detroit Electric built over 13,000 EVs before Tesla existed. Using DC motors and optional Edison nickel-iron packs (1911–1916), ads touted about 80 miles between charges (higher in ideal tests).

Drivers didn’t need to crank the engine by hand, unlike gasoline vehicles. Detroit Electric demonstrated that electric cars could be practical and reliable, even attracting the interest of Henry Ford during the early 1900s.

Moon Rover moves

The Lunar Rover was electric, but it wasn’t meant for streets; it was used on the moon in 1971 during Apollo 15. Four motors produced a total of 1 horsepower, enough to explore craters and rocks.

It could reach 8.7 mph and was powered by silver-oxide batteries. Three of these rovers were left on the moon, making them some of the longest-lasting electric vehicles in history.

Sebring-Vanguard Citicar

During the 1970s fuel crisis, Americans wanted small, economical cars. The CitiCar line used 3.5–6-hp motors depending on trim, delivered about 40 miles of range, and topped out in the mid-30s mph.

Its plastic body kept weight low, and nearly 4,500 were sold. The car proved that electric vehicles could be practical and popular when gas prices soared, even if it wasn’t fast or flashy.

Marathon C-300 effort

Canada’s Marathon C-300 arrived in 1978 as a small commercial runabout with a single 8-hp motor. It can travel approximately 50 miles on a single charge, which is sufficient for short city trips or deliveries.

Built from parts of the Ford Pinto and Volkswagen, the fiberglass car included a folding canvas roof. Only 600 were made, but some are still in use today, showing that durability matters more than popularity.

Chevrolet Electrovette

In 1979, GM experimented with an electric version of the Chevette. It had a 63-hp motor, a 50-mile range, and a top speed of 52 mph, showing early promise for performance EVs.

Rising gas prices made it attractive, but battery limitations prevented widespread adoption. The Electrovette reminds us of the many attempts to create practical electric vehicles before Tesla made them mainstream.

General Motors EV1

The 1996 GM EV1 changed the electric car game. With 137 horsepower, a 78-mile range, and a top speed of 80 mph, it proved that EVs could compete with gasoline cars.

Leased in California, it featured regenerative braking and advanced electronics. GM canceled the program in 1999, crushing most EV1s, leaving fans to wonder what could have happened if it had survived.

AC propulsion tZero

The tZero in 1997 was a small, high-performance electric car with a 200-hp induction motor. It could reach 90 mph and travel up to 100 miles on a single charge, an impressive feat for its time.

This California startup inspired Elon Musk and influenced the development of the first Tesla Roadster. The tZero proved that electric cars could be exciting, fast, and ready for the mainstream market.

Battery breakthroughs

Early EVs relied on lead-acid or nickel-iron batteries, which were heavy and slow to charge. Their limited range made long trips impractical for everyday drivers.

Modern lithium-ion batteries are lighter, charge more quickly, and enable cars to travel farther. This breakthrough has made electric cars practical for daily use, transforming the EV market completely.

The BMW i4 M60 raises the bar for electric cars. This breakthrough has made electric cars practical for daily use, transforming the EV market completely.

EVs go mainstream

Tesla didn’t invent EVs, but it made them desirable. Roadsters and Model S vehicles demonstrated that electric cars could surpass gas cars in terms of speed, style, and technology.

Other brands quickly followed, giving consumers more options. From city commuters to luxury rides, EVs are now a serious choice for almost anyone in America.

Why men buy more electric cars than women in the U.S. shows how market trends shape adoption. From city commuters to luxury rides, EVs are now a serious choice for almost anyone in America.

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.