Fuel sources for engines were a problem for early automobile
inventors. Steam was the power source of choice in the 1800's and made railroads
the biggest game-changer of the century. This was fine for mass-transit between
cities and for large cargo loads, but people still needed an individual way to
transport themselves and their small cargo loads around town. It was Nicolaus Otto who invented the first
effective petroleum gas motor engine and Karl Benz who earned the first patent
for a gas-fueled car in 1886. For the next 100 years automobiles would be
designed largely around a gas-powered engine.
While the automotive industry was centered on
petroleum-based fuels, research on alternative fuel sources continued. Rudolf Diesel showed an engine at the 1900
World's Fair that ran on peanut oil, one of several fuel types he experimented
with before settling on the fuel named after him, diesel, which is made from
by-products created by the petroleum refining process. British inventor Thomas
Parker was interested in electric vehicles at the same time Otto and Benz were
working on their gas-powered engines; his interest was reportedly motivated by his
concern of smoke-filled streets in London. Gas shortages in war times, World
War II and Vietnam, created renewed interest in alternative energy sources.
Late in the 20th century, the demand and technology came together to
create enough interest to move the development of electric vehicles.
Today a variety of alternative energy sources are in varying states of research and development but the three main vehicle types on the road today are powered by gas, electricity, or a hybrid of the two. Nalley will take a closer look at the consideration and costs of EVs with traditional gas-fueled vehicles in the coming weeks to help you decide which is right for your upcoming purchase.
Do you drive an EV story to share or have questions you’d like us
to address in our series?
We want to be sure we address them.