Skip to main content

The surprisingly long history of electric cars - Daniel Sperling and Gil Tal

531,723 Views

15,416 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

By the end of the 19th century, nearly 40% of American cars were electric. But these vehicles had a few major problems — early car batteries were expensive and inefficient, and the vehicles were twice the price of a gas-powered car. And so for the next several decades, gas-powered cars dominated the market. Can electric cars reclaim their place on the road? Daniel Sperling and Gil Tal investigate.

Increased availability of electricity accounted for the popularity of early electric vehicles within urban populations. What other factors might have led to a preference for electric cars among city dwellers?

Sign in to answer question

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Gil Tal, Daniel Sperling
  • Director Lobster Studio
  • Narrator Jack Cutmore-Scott
  • Storyboard Artist Miguel Ángel Camprubí
  • Animator Ralitsa Aleksieva , Teodor Hristov
  • Art Director Miguel Ángel Camprubí
  • Composer Fabrizio Martini
  • Sound Designer Fabrizio Martini
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
  • Content Associate Abdallah Ewis
  • Script Editor Alex Gendler
  • Fact-Checker Jennifer Nam

More from Inventions that Shape History