Most Influential Electric Vehicles: An Illustrated History

We'd bet that many people think of electric vehicles as a relatively new method of transportation, but that's, um, shockingly incorrect. Electricity has actually been competing with gasoline (and steam!) to power automobiles since the very dawn of the horseless carriage. Modern day thrill rides such as the Tesla Model S and Porsche Taycan were preceded by more a century of electric-powered buggies, snail-slow EVs, and even a land-speed record breaking electrics. In the following slides, we present–in all its voltaic glory–an illustrated history of the electric vehicles that were most influential over the years.

While there were other electrified conveyances that came before, such as battery-powered tricycles and tram cars dating back to as early as 1881, the Baker Electric was the first commercially available electric car when it went on sale in 1899. The car was produced by the Baker Motor Vehicle Company in Cleveland, Ohio, which manufactured cars until 1915. During its short run, the company's founder attempted multiple land speed record attempts, and its chief engineer managed to set the record for electric driving range, which ended up being an astounding 201 miles on a single charge.

Studebaker is likely a familiar name to car nuts, but even the most studied auto enthusiast may be unaware that the Indiana-based automaker's first horseless carriage was this little buggy from 1902. (The photo was obviously staged much more recently.) The Studebaker Electric Car was offered in a variety of body styles over its 10-year production run, including one that could seat four people. Its battery system was easily recharged, and no less a bright light than Thomas Edison chose one as his first car.

Originally founded as a horse-drawn carriage maker in 1884, the Anderson Carriage Company changed its business model in 1907 and introduced an electric-powered horseless carriage called the Detroit Electric. The EV was was advertised with a range of 80 miles per charge, but was capable of longer distances; in one test it managed an incredible 211.3 miles on a single charge. The company officially changed its name to Detroit Electric in 1911 but, like rivals Studebaker and Baker Electric, its electric vehicle line failed. It was ultimately pushed into obscurity in favor of automakers who focused solely on internal combustion engines.

Following a lull in interest in electric vehicles, upstart automaker Henney Motor Company launched its four-door Kilowatt, which was heavily based on the tiny Renault Dauphine. The Kilowatt was offered for both the 1959 and 1960 model years and, although it did not last long, it was the first EV that could travel at higher speeds; the 1960 model was capable of 60 mph.

Perhaps the most infamous car on this list of EV influencers, General Motor's EV1 walked so that today's electric cars could run. The EV1 was GM's way of both testing the electric car market and developing the technology it might need if it detected a shift in buyer preferences. The aerodynamic, two-seat specialty car was available through a lease program to drivers in California, Arizona, and Georgia. Gen I models–those produced for the 1997 model year–offered a driving range of 70-100 miles and were available in either green, red, or silver. the Gen II update arrived in 1999 and could be had with a new nickel-metal hydride battery pack that boosted range to as much as 140 miles per charge. What made the EV1 truly infamous though, was the scandal that followed its cancellation, when GM's management exercised their right to recall the cars from lessees, after which the cars were sent to the crusher. About 40 EV1s were spared this fate, but had their powertrains deactivated and were donated to museums and educational institutions.

Like the GM EV1, Honda offered its own specialty electric car, called the EV Plus, to select customers through a lease-only program from 1997 to 1999. The little Honda was actually the first EV to utilize the more modern nickel-metal hydride battery pack that the second-generation GM EV1 later switched to. This type of battery provided a higher energy density, which enabled it to take up less space than a lead-acid battery pack while providing more range per charge. Honda pulled the plug on the EV Plus after just three years and producing only about 300 cars.

Sure, we have several electric SUVs to choose from today, but the first was the 1997 Toyota RAV4 EV. It was surprisingly unpopular among consumers of the time. Still, it laid the groundwork for today's EV SUVs such as the Hyundai Kona Electric and the electric version of the Kia Niro, as well as luxury models like the Tesla Model X and Jaguar I-Pace. Its top speed was only 78 mph and its driving range was a paltry 95 miles per charge. Toyota discontinued the RAV4 EV after the 2003 model year but tried again with a new RAV4 EV from 2012 to 2014 through a partnership with Tesla.

Tesla's first car wasn't the volume-selling luxury Model S sedan; it was the 2008 Roadster. Based loosely on the Lotus Elise with parts sourced directly from the British specialty sports car manufacturer, the Roadster was the first car that displayed founder Elon Musk's vision for long-range electric motoring. The Roadster wasn't a sales success (only 2450 were sold worldwide), but it served as the proof-of-0concept for the future of the Tesla brand.

Around the time Tesla was proving that EVs could be tuned to deliver long driving range, Nissan was working on proving that an EV could be a practical family car. The first-generation Leaf wore styling that was–gulp–distinctive, but its interior was spacious, comfortable, and practical. Driving range was limited to a mere 73 miles per charge; more recent model years have received larger battery packs enabling a range of up to 226 miles. But that original Leaf sold for a fraction of the cost of the Tesla Roadster and offered enough utility to be used as a daily driver. The Leaf is also the first EV to be considered a true commercial success, with over 470,000 sold as of March, 2020.

When the Tesla Model S hit the market in 2012 it instantly became an automotive benchmark, and did much to create the Cult of Elon. Its large battery pack delivered reliable, long-range driving with quick recharging times while its powerful electric motors gave it gut-punch acceleration—especially when the aptly named Ludicrous driving mode was engaged. The Model S launched Tesla into the luxury sedan market and quickly became the car of choice for wealthy Hollywood types. And it brought electric motoring into the spotlight for many auto enthusiasts.

On the other end of the spectrum from the wild-looking BMW i3 was the Volkswagen e-Golf. Instead of standing out for being different, the e-Golf traded on fitting in, proving EVs could be good cars even if they didn't broadcast their status with bold styling. The e-Golf's driving range was limited–its highest ratings barely topped 100 miles–but like the Nissan Leaf, it's practical hatchback body made it a good choice for families or drivers who needed space for cargo. We liked it so much that we put it on our 10Best list for 2018 and 2019 alongside the rest of the Golf lineup.

It wasn't until Chevrolet launched the Bolt EV in 2017 that electric vehicles hit their stride. Chevy's odd little hatchback was the whole package: Practical, nicely-equipped, fun-to-drive, and–most importantly–it offered 238 miles of EPA-certified driving range per charge. The Tesla Model S was offering roughly the same thing at the same time, but for more than twice what the Bolt EV stickered for. That made the Chevy the first affordable EV with enough driving range to legitimately replace an internal-combustion–powered vehicle for the hypothetical average consumer.

Although the Chevy Bolt EV beat Tesla's Model 3 to market as the first affordable long-range EV, the Model 3 brought an element of desirability—good looks and strong performance—that has accelerated its sales and its brand's penetration in the electric vehicle market. The Chevy Bolt EV took the electric vehicle mainstream but the Model 3 legitimized Tesla as a mass producer of automobiles, one that has to be considered alongside the world's well-established nameplates.

The next frontier for electric vehicles is gearing up to be a showdown in the pickup truck market. Rivian, an upstart EV automaker from Michigan, surprised the automotive world with the R1T pickup truck concept in late 2018, which kicked off a string of future me-too products such as the Tesla Cybertruck, the GMC Hummer EV SUT, and the Bollinger B2. As batteries become more advanced and cheaper, more applications of the technology could be on the table for the first time. SUVs, pickups, and other utility vehicles promise to push the EV into a new era—and there's an increasing interest in using electric propulsion in commercial vehicles, particularly long-haul trucking. Our guess is that while electric vehicles have been around for more a century already, their story is only just beginning.