Quote:
Originally Posted by Taylor95
That's just amazing-- I've always thought of EVs as new technology.
I think this can add to our discussion. What do you think mainly caused EVs to die out back then? Why will that not happen in this era?
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Freebeard's comment about the electric starter is a big deal. Early ICE cars had a hand crank on the front of the engine to start them. It was difficult and if you got the technique wrong the engine could kick back and break your arm.
Once Charlies Kettering's Delco team invented a practical electric starter for ICE cars electric cars were finished. ICE cars could drive farther, be refueled easily and anyone could drive one.
The biggest reason EV's will eventually take over today is emission standards. The amount of electronic wizardry required to get an ICE car to meet emission standards is only increasing. We are close to the point that it will be cheaper to make an electric car. At that point the only barrier to EV adoption is charging infrastructure.
EDIT: This is the starting technique for an early Model T (From Car & Driver)
1. Pull the choke adjacent to the right fender while engaging the crank lever under the radiator at the front of the car, slowly turning it a quarter-turn clockwise to prime the carburetor with fuel.
2. Get into the car. Insert the ignition key, turning the setting to either magneto or battery. Adjust the timing stalk upward to retard the timing, move the throttle stalk downward slightly for an idle setting, and pull back on the hand brake, which also places the car in neutral.
3. Return to the front of the car. Use your left hand to crank the lever (if the engine backfires and the lever swings counterclockwise, the left arm is less likely to be broken). Give it a vigorous half-crank, and the engine should start