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What were some problems with the first electric cars?
It seems like talk of mass-producing electric cars has been happening throughout my entire lifetime, but hasn’t really taken off until the past few years. What were some problems with the first electric cars?
Allison Stone · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
You’re right in noting that the mass-market availability of electric vehicles has been a long time coming. One of the biggest roadblocks to early EV production and adoption was due to the availability and affordability of gas, but that’s not the only struggle that electric automakers faced when trying to develop a reliable alternative to the internal combustion engine.
Some issues that the first electric cars had included:
- A lack of early electric infrastructure. When the use of gas became cheap and popular following the discovery of crude oil in Texas, gas became accessible and plentiful, but few Americans outside of cities had electricity.
- Poor range. Electric cars were best used for short trips, and as highways were built and American interest in travel increased, electric cars declined in popularity.
- The early lead-acid batteries used in electric cars were incredibly heavy and bulky, and could not store much energy given their weight.
The advent of the more lightweight, rechargeable
lithium-ion battery
is much of what has helped to popularize electric cars today. Electric cars are much more affordable and accessible than they used to be, but there are still some barriers to ownership. While driving an electric car can be a great choice for the environment, it can still be expensive for consumers. Not only will drivers need to install a charger at home, but
car insurance
rates for EVs tend to be higher due to their specialized parts. Sign up with
Jerry
and you’ll get instant quotes for the best deals on car insurance coverage. Jerry will also reevaluate your plan every six months to make sure you’re always getting the best coverage at the best price. View full answer
- Gregory R.
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