How did electric vehicles work in the early 1900s?

@sorphia
The range was bad for all cars back then, not just electric ones. The roads weren’t great either!

Early electric cars used DC motors and batteries, with simple mechanical controls like levers to manage speed. Charging stations weren’t a thing, so people just swapped or charged their batteries at home. AC motors, which require more complex controls, came much later.

@Gabriel
Actually, they didn’t swap batteries. They just charged them like we do now, although the cars were much slower and more efficient, so they didn’t need huge battery capacities.

@Gabriel
Also, back in the 1900s, some areas still used DC power grids (thanks to Edison), so you could charge your car by plugging straight into a DC outlet without needing an inverter.

Computers aren’t necessary for an electric vehicle. You can run a simple motor using just a battery and a variable resistor. Today’s EVs use computers for efficiency, safety, and battery management, but early EVs were much simpler.

An early EV works by having a battery supply current to a motor, which powers the wheels. It’s a simple system, and no computer is needed to make it work. Why do you think a computer is required in an EV?

@Nathan
I think people just assume computers are involved because modern cars rely so heavily on them. Older cars, whether electric or gas-powered, didn’t need computers to function.

Howard said:
@Nathan
I think people just assume computers are involved because modern cars rely so heavily on them. Older cars, whether electric or gas-powered, didn’t need computers to function.

Yeah, things have changed so much! I remember using a timing light on my 1947 Ford. It’s crazy how far cars have come.

@Nathan
Sounds like I need to dust off my timing light and change the plugs and wires on my old car!

Here’s the thing: modern EVs have computers because they make everything more efficient, safer, and easier to use. But back in the early 1900s, you didn’t need a computer to run an EV. You had a simple battery, motor, and some way to control the current, like a resistor or mechanical lever. They didn’t have regenerative braking or advanced battery management systems like we do today. That’s why those early EVs were slow, had short ranges, and required more hands-on management from the driver.

Without computers, the batteries were less efficient, and the motors produced a lot more heat. Still, they managed to get around with what they had.