Electric vehicles have come a long way since the 1890s
Wood wheels and 24 batteries helped this whip go down in infamy. (Courtesy american-automobiles.com/)Battery-powered whips might seem like novel additions to your local thoroughfares, but they’ve actually been around for more than a century. This is how the cars have progressed, from buggy to pickup.1890s: William Morrison’s ride (above)Scotland-native William Morrison was one of the first inventors to create an electric vehicle for America’s streets. Twenty-four batteries under the seats provided the carriage with just 4 horsepower and a top speed of 20 mph as it rolled on steel-clad wooden wheels.Huzzah, no more hand cranks (or cramps). (Courtesy thehenryford.org/)1914: Detroit Electric 47The model 47, made by the Anderson Electric Car Company, could start instantly without the hand-cranking its combustion-driven cousins required. Thomas Edison piloted one of these, as did Henry Ford’s wife. The car promised a respectable 80 miles of range per charge.Ford did it first. (Courtesy Ford UK/)1967: Ford...