EVs Were More Popular Than Gas Cars a Century Ago, But They Couldn’t Avoid This Big Problem

johngaltshrugged

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Oct 15, 2020
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Did you know 120 years ago when cars were still a novelty, 3 different technologies vied for dominance?
These were:
1) Steam- the most popular because they understood the technology
2) EV's- more reliable & safer than the others
3) ICE- least popular until the Model T

I've made it clear that I know AWG is a scam for the low IQ, the Green New Deal is a pipedream for the low info & current EV's are a virtue signal for the wokesters.
That said, I would CONSIDER switching over once all of these serious issues are adequately addressed:
A) The price is the same as a comparable ICE. Right now they are around 2x's more expensive.

B) Same performance as a comparable ICE. Same range, same power, same maintenance. If my ICE engine can get 300K miles from it, the batteries on the EV have to last at least that long.
They are nowhere close to meeting these parameters.

C) Same infrastructure for them as for ICE. Same number of power sources, the power lines & connections needed to charge & vastly expanded power plant numbers to provide the energy necessary.
That alone will take decades.

We have no capacity to produce the batteries necessary for this magical transition so trying to force it will result in tragedy for the most vulnerable as our supply chains grind to a halt, inflation soars, the economy crashes & famine hits the masses around the world.

We are decades & major leaps in technology plus massive infrastructure away from making this EV fantasy come to life.

Right about the beginning of the 20th century, horseless carriages were emerging as novelties, transports for the rich, and quickly adopted as necessities for doctors making urgent home visits.

Three forms of automobile engines vied in that era for dominance: electric, steam, and gasoline.

Experiments with battery-powered wagons had taken place in Europe and the United States from at least the 1830s, notes a history of electric cars compiled by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Des Moines, Iowa, chemist William Morrison is credited with the first successful EV in the U.S. In 1890 his 14-passenger wagon could go 14 mph. The concept quickly caught on and within a few years, New York had 60 electric taxis scooting about.

Steam was also considered because, given its decades-long success on railroads and in marine and industrial applications, it was familiar and tested. In fact, in 1899, it was the most popular form of automobile propulsion with 1,681 units recorded.

But one could not just jump in a steam car and go – it could take perhaps 45 minutes to raise the needed steam pressure and there would be frequent stops to replenish the water supply.

Gasoline engines were noisy, smelly, and could even be dangerous to start since required hand cranking could misfire the engine and possibly break an arm.

As a result, electric vehicles increased in popularity and, depending on sources, at the beginning of the 20th century, battery-powered electric motors propelled between 28 and 37 percent of all U.S. automobiles.

Electrics were ideal for urban environments where there was a dense network of city streets. EVs ran clean and quiet and had generally good access to recharging via the urban electrical grid. Their limited range presented few problems in local city driving.

Also, because they required no boiler firing or hand cranking of engines, their simplicity of operation made EVs popular with women, according to Quartz.

But several developments brought the soon demise of the EV. First was price — Henry Ford introduced the Model T in 1908 and four years later it sold for an unheard of $650 compared to an electric car at $1,750.


 
In the 1950 locomotives were created that use electric motors to move the trains and they still use them today because lectric motors deliver more torque.
 
Did you know 120 years ago when cars were still a novelty, 3 different technologies vied for dominance?
These were:
1) Steam- the most popular because they understood the technology
2) EV's- more reliable & safer than the others
3) ICE- least popular until the Model T

I've made it clear that I know AWG is a scam for the low IQ, the Green New Deal is a pipedream for the low info & current EV's are a virtue signal for the wokesters.
That said, I would CONSIDER switching over once all of these serious issues are adequately addressed:
A) The price is the same as a comparable ICE. Right now they are around 2x's more expensive.

B) Same performance as a comparable ICE. Same range, same power, same maintenance. If my ICE engine can get 300K miles from it, the batteries on the EV have to last at least that long.
They are nowhere close to meeting these parameters.

C) Same infrastructure for them as for ICE. Same number of power sources, the power lines & connections needed to charge & vastly expanded power plant numbers to provide the energy necessary.
That alone will take decades.

We have no capacity to produce the batteries necessary for this magical transition so trying to force it will result in tragedy for the most vulnerable as our supply chains grind to a halt, inflation soars, the economy crashes & famine hits the masses around the world.

We are decades & major leaps in technology plus massive infrastructure away from making this EV fantasy come to life.

Right about the beginning of the 20th century, horseless carriages were emerging as novelties, transports for the rich, and quickly adopted as necessities for doctors making urgent home visits.

Three forms of automobile engines vied in that era for dominance: electric, steam, and gasoline.

Experiments with battery-powered wagons had taken place in Europe and the United States from at least the 1830s, notes a history of electric cars compiled by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Des Moines, Iowa, chemist William Morrison is credited with the first successful EV in the U.S. In 1890 his 14-passenger wagon could go 14 mph. The concept quickly caught on and within a few years, New York had 60 electric taxis scooting about.

Steam was also considered because, given its decades-long success on railroads and in marine and industrial applications, it was familiar and tested. In fact, in 1899, it was the most popular form of automobile propulsion with 1,681 units recorded.

But one could not just jump in a steam car and go – it could take perhaps 45 minutes to raise the needed steam pressure and there would be frequent stops to replenish the water supply.

Gasoline engines were noisy, smelly, and could even be dangerous to start since required hand cranking could misfire the engine and possibly break an arm.

As a result, electric vehicles increased in popularity and, depending on sources, at the beginning of the 20th century, battery-powered electric motors propelled between 28 and 37 percent of all U.S. automobiles.

Electrics were ideal for urban environments where there was a dense network of city streets. EVs ran clean and quiet and had generally good access to recharging via the urban electrical grid. Their limited range presented few problems in local city driving.

Also, because they required no boiler firing or hand cranking of engines, their simplicity of operation made EVs popular with women, according to Quartz.

But several developments brought the soon demise of the EV. First was price — Henry Ford introduced the Model T in 1908 and four years later it sold for an unheard of $650 compared to an electric car at $1,750.


Difference was that, back then, they didn’t outlaw horses before the automobile took off.
 
Remember this from 1970?

1670807555678.jpeg
 
EV's were popular, especially with women, because you didn't have turn a heavy hand crank at the front of the car to start the gasoline engine.
Then the electric starter was invented to start ICE car's engines by pushing a button on the dashboard.
This invention doomed the sale of EV cars.
 
Last edited:
Renewables produce more energy than coal and nuclear in the US.

According to figures from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), 22% of all electricity by the end of 2022 came from hydro, wind and solar. That is higher than coal at 20 per cent and nuclear at 19 per cent.

Since 2019, solar and wind power have grown by 58 per cent in the US. Renewable sources provided 22 per cent of US electricity generation in 2022 and 24 per cent in 2023 as generation from natural gas declined from 38 per cent in 2022 to 36 per cent in 2023.

After peaking around a decade ago, coal has seen a gradual decline in its share of energy production. This is set to drop from 20 to 19 per cent, according to the EIA.
 
In the 1950 locomotives were created that use electric motors to move the trains and they still use them today because lectric motors deliver more torque.
You are decades off, the Pennsylvania Railroad started using GG-1 electric locos in 1934. GE and ALCO combined to produce diesel-electric switching locos in 1924. By 1934 Burlington RR and Union Pacific were running diesel electric consists on their main lines. WWII American Subs used Fairbanks Morse diesels designed for locomotives to drive their electric motors/generators.
 
Steam is the primary source of energy in the gigantic U.S. Navy fleets. It's generated by nuclear power.
Wrong, the majority of US naval vessels are powered by jet engines. The only USN ships powered by turbines run off the waste heat from reactors are carriers and submarines.
 

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