Range anxiety around EVs has lingered since the ‘90s—the 1890s, that is.

When the Scottish chemist William Morrison unveiled his first electric-car model in Iowa in 1890, batteries seemed to have an edge in the automotive market. The first fleet of electric cabs arrived in New York City in 1897, and by the turn of the century, electric cars were outselling gas-powered vehicles in the U.S. 

Many drivers preferred the simpler, quieter operation of electric cars. Gas automobiles were loud, emitted a strange odour, and required a hand crank to start. It wasn’t until the pesky Henry Ford began producing the Model T in 1908 that the internal combustion engine began its more than century-long reign.

But mass production doesn’t entirely explain the electric car’s eventual decline. Range limits also appeared to be a hindrance. Most EVs at the time would get an average mileage of between 40 and 50 miles per charge. The Model T, by comparison, would get up to 210 miles out of its 10-gallon tank.

It is somewhat sobering, then, to consider how contemporary EVs suffer similar setbacks all these years later. While some of the latest electric models like the Chevrolet Bolt EV and the Hyundai Kona Electric have reached about parity with gas vehicles in terms of range, it’s come at the cost of long charging times. A charge can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours, depending on the infrastructure; YouTubers can be seen documenting 40-minute charging stops along their cross-country road trips, to varying levels of satisfaction. In a recent KPMG survey of Canadians, 51 per cent of respondents said they wouldn’t wait longer than 20 minutes at a public charging station. Eighteen per cent wouldn’t wait longer than five. 

Such concerns are fast losing their purchase, however, with policymakers and private companies gradually correcting this widely understood problem. 

Some of the higher-end Mercedes and Tesla models have begun to substantially outpace the range capabilities of gas cars. Shell Canada is expanding the number of charging ports at its gas stations in the country, while Calgary’s Suncor Energy has built a cross-Canada charging network at its Petro-Canada–branded stations. China is refocusing on charging infrastructure through subsidies, according to Rystad Energy, while European nations have introduced their own charging-infrastructure incentives. The same KPMG survey cited above found that 71 per cent of Canadians would still consider buying an EV for their next vehicle, suggesting mindsets are quickly changing. 

Range anxiety was likely part of the reason EVs failed to take hold in the early 1900s, but it wasn’t the only factor. Electric vehicles at the time were marketed specifically toward women because it was believed that they would prefer their simpler and quieter designs—a presumption that may have lowered their appeal among men. Perhaps the rise of gas-powered cars and our subsequent 120-year oil addiction can also be blamed on patriarchal inclinations.  

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