Global EV Outlook, April 2013 | TIMELINE

A BRIEF HISTORY OF
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
2008
Oil prices reach more than
USD 145 per barrel.
1908
From Europe to North America to Asia, the history of electric mobility is a demonstration of the worlds The petrol-powered Ford Model T 2010
persistent ingenuity and adaptation in transportation. The future of electric mobility still to be written is introduced to the market. 1966 The BEV Nissan LEAF is launched.
will stand, in part, on the achievements and lessons learned from these earlier periods. The U.S. Congress introduces legislation
1909 2011
recommending electric vehicles as a
William Taft becomes the first The worlds largest electric car sharing
means of reducing air pollution.
U.S. President to purchase an service, Autolib, is launched in Paris
automobile, a Baker Electric. 1973 with a targeted stock of 3,000 EVs.
1888
German engineer Andreas Flocken The OPEC oil embargo causes high
1912 2011
builds the first four-wheeled electric car. oil prices, long lines at petrol filling stations,
The electric starter, invented by GLOBAL EV STOCK REACHES
and renewed interested in EVs. NEW HISTORICAL PEAK OF 50,000
Charles Kettering, obviates the need for
1897
the hand-crank, making it easier for more 1976
The first commercial electric vehicles 2011
people to drive petrol-powered cars.
enter the New York City taxi fleet. Frances government launches French government fleet consortium
The carmaker, Pope Manufacturing Co., the PREDIT programme commits to purchase 50,000 EVs
1912
becomes the first large-scale EV accelerating EV RD&D. over four years.
GLOBAL EV STOCK REACHES
manufacturer in the United States. HISTORICAL PEAK OF 30,000
1996 2011
1899 1930s To comply with Californias Zero Nissan LEAF wins
183239 The La Jamais Contente, built in By 1935, EVs become all-but-extinct Emission Vehicle (ZEV) requirements European Car of the Year award.
France, becomes the first electric vehicle due to the predominance of internal of 1990, General Motors produces and
Robert Anderson, of Scotland, builds the
to travel over 100 km per hour. combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and begins leasing the EV1 electric car. 2012
first prototype electric-powered carriage.
availability of cheap petrol. The PHEV Chevrolet Volt outsells
1834 1900 1997 half the car models on the U.S. market.
Thomas Davenport, of the United States, Electricity-powered cars become the 1947 In Japan, Toyota begins sales of the Prius,
invents and installs the first direct current top-selling road vehicle in the United Oil rationing in Japan leads carmaker the worlds first commercial hybrid car. 2012
electrical motor in a car that operates States, capturing 28% of the market. Tama to release a 4.5hp electric car 18,000 are sold in the first production year. GLOBAL EV STOCK EXCEEDS 180,000

on a circular electrified track. with a 40V lead acid battery.

18 0118 5 0 18 5119 0 0 19 0119 5 0 19 512 0 0 0 20 01

THE BEGINNING THE FIRST AGE THE BOOM & BUST THE SECOND AGE THE THIRD AGE
The earliest electric vehicles are invented Electric vehicles enter the marketplace EVs reach historical production peaks High oil prices and pollution cause Public and private sectors recommit
in Scotland and the United States. and find broad appeal. only to be displaced by petrol-powered cars. renewed interest in electric vehicles. to vehicle electrification.

Sources: Curtis D. Anderson and Judy Anderson, Electric and Hybrid Cars: A History, McFarland and Company, 2012 ; burnanenergyjournal.com; pbs.org/now/shows/223/electric-car-timeline.
2013 Global EV Outlook, OECD/IEA, 9 rue de la Fdration, 75739 Paris Cedex 15, France. Please refer to the full report for complete notice of copyright.