The invention of the first electric car in 1834 is attributed to Thomas Davenport, according to the Electric Automobile Association (EAA). As a matter of fact, electric ruled until 1899 and later, even enjoying periodic resurgences of popularity every generation or so. Believe it or not, an electric-car producing company called CitiCar was in 1975 the 6th largest US car manufacturer.

But that was then and this is now, as they used to say in grade school.

Now, although it’s been a bumpy road, it looks like the electric vehicle (EV) has had a good couple of years and can look forward to more of the same, if not better.

Despite all the turmoil, there’s been progress, even though the mere fact of going out and purchasing an EV still requires that you either (a) live in California where the laws encourage suc

h development, or are (b) a car dealer or (c) a fleet owner.

Take the “Smart” car, available in Switzerland and the United Kingdom as Smart EVs – zero-emission versions of their gas-accommodating “cousins.” These cars share the easy-parking abilities and unique styling of the standard Smarts, but are only available in the “for-two” configuration and only to "to blue chip companies who are happy to meet our requirements to power the cars using only renewable energy sources," says Smart UK. Conversions for your standard Smart are also available.

Some topics in this essay:
Elon Musk, Association EAA, AutoblogGreen AEV, Smart EVs, UK Conversions, I’m Smart, , G-Wiz EV, NEV Kurrent's, John Kurrent, electric cars, electric car, electric vehicle,