Evolution of the Automobile - Part 3: Electric Dreams: The Environmental Revolution (1996-Present)
Evolution: The Birth and Development of Motion Pictures ← Series Home Key Takeaways GM's EV1 (1996): Demonstrated electric vehicle viability but was controversially discontinued and crushed. Tesla's Roadster (2008): Proved EVs could be desirable, high-performance vehicles, not just eco-compromises. Dieselgate (2015): Crushed diesel's reputation and accelerated the shift toward electric vehicles. Battery technology: Advances dramatically reduced costs and extended range, making EVs practical. Government policies: Environmental concerns are rapidly accelerating EV adoption globally. For over a century, the internal combustion engine dominated automotive transportation. Gasoline and diesel engines became so refined, so embedded in infrastructure and culture, that alternatives seemed impossible. But environmental pressures, technological breakthroughs, and visionary entrepreneurs are now rewriting automotive history. ...