Lexi Webster
The first electric car was invented in Europe in the 19th century, with Australia's first electric automobile being created in 1899 by Sydney engineer Henry Sutton. Australia has witnessed a significant increase in electric car sales in recent years, with 46,624 EVs sold in the first half of 2023, accounting for 8.4% of all new automobile sales in the country. The adoption of electric vehicles in Australia is driven by state-based targets and monetary incentives for low- or zero-emission vehicles, with the country being well-positioned in the EV manufacturing race due to its abundant lithium resources.
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What You'll Learn
Australia's first electric car was the Blade Electron, released in 2008
Australia has witnessed a significant increase and improvement in electric cars in recent years, although it still lags behind other countries in terms of market share and policy support. The adoption of electric vehicles in Australia is driven by state-based targets and incentives to support the adoption of low- or zero-emission vehicles. The incentives include electric vehicle subsidies, interest-free loans, registration exemptions, stamp duty exemptions, and discounted parking.
The first commercially available electric car in Australia was the Blade Electron, released in 2008. The Blade Electron was developed by a small Victorian second-stage manufacturing outfit known as Blade Automotive. The car used a Hyundai Getz as a donor vehicle, replacing the petrol engine and fuel tank with an electric motor and a lithium-ion phosphate battery. The Blade Electron had a driving range of 100 kilometres and a top speed of 120 kilometres per hour. Despite its promising start, Blade Automotive closed its doors after producing only 50 cars.
While the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, which arrived in Australia in 2011, is often considered the country's first electric vehicle, it was predated by the Blade Electron. The Nissan Leaf, which was introduced in Australia in 2012, and the BMW i3, which was released in 2014, also contributed to the growing electric vehicle market in the country.
In recent years, electric car sales in Australia have continued to grow. In 2021, Australian EV sales tripled, with a market share of above 2%. In the first half of 2023, 46,624 EVs were sold in Australia, more than three times the number sold in 2022. This represents a 269% increase, and electric vehicles now account for 8.4% of all new automobile sales in the country.
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The first electric car was invented in Europe in 1828
The history of electric cars in Australia is fascinating, but the first electric car was not invented in the country. In fact, the first electric car made its appearance in Europe in 1828, almost two centuries ago!
The early history of electric cars is often overlooked, as they are frequently seen as a recent innovation. However, the story of electric vehicles dates back to the 19th century, with the first electric car invented by a Hungarian priest and physicist named Ányos Jedlik. This pioneer created a small model car powered by an early type of electric motor, marking the beginning of a new era in transportation.
Following Jedlik's invention, several other innovators in Europe and beyond continued to develop electric vehicles. In 1835, a Dutch professor, Sibrandus Stratingh, and his German assistant, Christopher Becker, created a larger electric vehicle capable of carrying passengers. This was followed by Scottish inventor Robert Anderson's crude electric carriage, which he developed between 1832 and 1839.
In 1884, English inventor Thomas Parker built the first production electric car, using rechargeable batteries of his own invention. Parker's electric car was more efficient and practical than the steam-powered and petrol-powered vehicles of that time. These early developments laid the foundation for the electric cars we know today.
While Australia did not invent the first electric car, the country has witnessed a significant increase in electric vehicle adoption in recent years. Sydney engineer Henry Sutton created Australia's first electric automobile in 1899, a three-wheeled vehicle with a top speed of 16 km/h and a range of 40 km on a single charge. Despite Australia's limited road infrastructure and electricity supply at the time, Sutton's electric car was a remarkable achievement.
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The first mass-produced electric car was made in 1884
The history of electric cars dates back to the 19th century, specifically 1884, when the first mass-produced electric car was made. English inventor Thomas Parker built his first electric car in Wolverhampton, England, in 1884, utilising rechargeable batteries of his own invention. The Elwell-Parker Company, which he founded in 1882, was in charge of manufacturing the car. The company later merged with other competitors in 1888 to form the Electric Construction Corporation, which dominated the British electric car market in the 1890s.
Parker's interest in creating more fuel-efficient vehicles led him to experiment with electric cars. He was likely also motivated by the harmful effects of smoke and pollution in London at the time. His electric car was more efficient and practical than the steam-powered and petrol-powered vehicles of that era.
Following Parker's pioneering work, other inventors and companies began to explore the potential of electric vehicles. For instance, in 1898, Ferdinand Porsche, the founder of the sports car company that bears his name, developed the P1 electric car. He also created the world's first hybrid electric car, which could be powered by electricity or a gas engine.
In the early 1900s, electric cabs were becoming popular in cities like New York, Boston, and Baltimore. However, the expansion was too rapid, and the venture collapsed by 1907 due to conflicts among investors and partners. Despite this setback, electric vehicles continued to gain attention, and by 1912, 33,842 electric cars were registered in the United States, making it the country with the highest acceptance of electric cars.
The introduction of the Toyota Prius in 1997 marked another significant turning point in the history of electric cars. It became the world's first mass-produced hybrid electric vehicle, sparking renewed interest in electric vehicles. The success of the Prius, along with rising gasoline prices and environmental concerns, has driven major automakers to accelerate their development of electric vehicles.
In Australia, the adoption of electric vehicles has been driven by state-based targets and monetary incentives to promote low- or zero-emission vehicles. While Australia lags behind other countries in market share and policy support for electric cars, there has been a significant increase in sales in recent years.
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Electric cars were popular in the US in the late 19th century
Electric cars have been around for a lot longer than one might think. While they are often seen as a recent innovation, the first electric car was invented in Europe in the 19th century. In 1828, a Hungarian priest and physicist named Ányos Jedlik created a small model car powered by an electric motor. Several other inventors in Hungary, the Netherlands, and the United States also began experimenting with the concept of battery-powered vehicles during this time.
In the second half of the 19th century, French and English inventors built some of the first practical electric cars. The first successful electric car in the US was introduced around 1890 by William Morrison, a chemist from Iowa. Morrison's six-passenger vehicle had a top speed of 14 miles per hour and helped spark interest in electric vehicles across the country.
Over the next few years, various automakers began developing electric vehicles in the US. Electric cars became popular for certain applications where their limited range was not an issue. For example, Yale introduced electric forklift trucks in 1923, and Lektro produced electric golf carts as early as 1954. By the 1920s, however, the heyday of electric cars had passed, and the industry had largely disappeared by the 1930s.
In Australia, the first electric automobile was created in 1899 by Sydney engineer Henry Sutton. Sutton's three-wheeled electric vehicle had a top speed of 16 km/h and could travel 40 km on a single charge. It was also the first car to use a steering wheel instead of a tiller or lever for direction control.
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in electric car sales and improvements in Australia, although it still lags behind other countries in terms of market share and policy support. In the first half of 2023, 46,624 electric vehicles were sold in Australia, more than three times the number sold in 2022. Electric vehicles now account for 8.4% of all new automobile sales in the country.
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Sales of electric cars in Australia tripled in 2021
Electric cars have been around for a long time, dating back to the 19th century. However, their popularity has waxed and waned over the years, with a worldwide decline in their use in the early 20th century due to high costs, low speeds, and short battery life. In the 21st century, interest in electric vehicles picked up again due to growing environmental concerns and the desire to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
In Australia, the story of electric cars goes back to 1899, when Sydney engineer Henry Sutton created the country's first electric automobile. Sutton's three-wheeled creation had a top speed of 16 km/h and could travel 40 km on a single charge, an impressive feat considering the limited road and electricity infrastructure in Australia at the time. Despite this early innovation, Australia has lagged behind other countries in terms of electric vehicle adoption and policy support.
However, this trend is changing. In 2021, sales of electric vehicles in Australia tripled, with 20,665 plug-in electric vehicles sold. This surge in sales can be attributed to several factors, including increased model availability, lower prices, and incentives introduced by state governments to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles. The Tesla Model 3 was the bestselling electric car in Australia in 2021, with 12,094 vehicles sold, accounting for 58.5% of all EV sales.
The adoption of electric vehicles in Australia is largely driven by state-based targets and incentives for low- or zero-emission vehicles. These incentives include subsidies, interest-free loans, registration exemptions, stamp duty exemptions, and discounted parking. The Victorian and New South Wales governments have set ambitious targets, aiming for 50-53% of new car sales to be electric vehicles by 2030. The New South Wales Government has an additional target for the majority of new cars sold by 2035 to be electric.
The increase in sales and supportive policies indicate that Australia is moving towards a greener future, embracing electric vehicles as a way to reduce emissions and promote sustainability.
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Frequently asked questions
The first electric car sold in Australia was the Blade Electron, which was released in 2008.
The first mass-produced electric car in Australia was the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, which was released in 2011.
The first electric car in the world was invented by a Hungarian priest and physicist named Ányos Jedlik in 1828. It was a small model car powered by an electric motor.
