Electric vehicles have a potential to lower greenhouse gas emissions but still face challenges. This study asks what can be learned from US automobile history. In 1900 there were three equal contenders in the US automotive industry: gasoline, electric and steam cars. Only a decade later the gasoline car had achieved a crushing dominance. This dominance is often attributed to techno-economic factors, such as an innate inferiority of electric cars. Meanwhile, the role of infrastructures is not well understood. The research project examines the mechanisms behind this process, using information on more than 36,000 passenger car models. One result is that the slow diffusion of electricity infrastructure gave gasoline cars the upper hand.

Data contains personal data

Language

English

Method and outcome

Unit of analysis

Geographic unit

Object

Population

American personal vehicle models

Time Method

Longitudinal

Sampling procedure

Total universe/Complete enumeration

Time period(s) investigated

1895 – 1942

Data format / data structure

Numeric

Data collection

Mode of collection: Transcription
Source of the data: Registers/Records/Accounts

Geographic coverage

Geographic spread

Geographic location: United States

Lowest geographic unit

Municipality

Highest geographic unit

Country

Administrative information

Responsible department/unit

Department of economic history

Funding 1

Funding agency: Jan Wallander and Tom Hedelius foundation
Funding agency's reference number: W2015-0445

Funding 2

Funding agency: Jan Wallander and Tom Hedelius foundation
Funding agency's reference number: W2017-0025

Topic and keywords

Research area

History (CESSDA Topic Classification)

Science and technology (CESSDA Topic Classification)

Society and culture (CESSDA Topic Classification)

Economic history (Standard för svensk indelning av forskningsämnen 2011)

Keywords

Electric cars, Gasoline cars, Technology choice, Infrastructure

Publications

Taalbi, J.; Nielsen, H. (2021) The role of energy infrastructure in shaping early adoption of electric and gasoline cars, Nature Energy, doi: 10.1038/s41560-021-00898-3
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-021-00898-3

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