this post was submitted on 23 Sep 2023
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Today I learned

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TIL a fleet of electric taxi cars was first introduced to London, UK in 1897 (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 11 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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We've gone full circle

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[–] [email protected] 35 points 11 months ago

The electric car predates cars powered by internal combustion engines. Before coal and oil took over, society was more or less powered with biofuels like wood and alternative energy sources like water wheels and windmills.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 11 months ago (4 children)

Imagine if development of these electric vehicles continued back then - the internal combustion engine would've been rendered all but obsolete.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 11 months ago

And we would've had a future

[–] [email protected] 8 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Doubtful. Internal Combustion engines took off well before the petroleum industry was obscenely wealthy. Coal/Railroad had a vested interest in keeping cars as a rich person toy rather then as something to build a society around. ICE powered by Oil/Kerosene was and IS much more energy dense then batteries were then, and are today. You have more energy per unit volume in a gallon of gas then even the most exotic batteries. That directly translates to more power, more distance, and more opportunity for miniaturization.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I reckon primarily the energy density and the convenience of merely filling up. Electric cars would not have had the raw power and ease of combustion engines. At least battery tech has now caught up.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 11 months ago

Yea the liquid form factor is certainly a huge advantage as well.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 11 months ago

Shell and BP

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

If nothing else, they would've faced the same limitations with battery capacity as we are today.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

We've had many technologies that would drastically help humanity for a very long time, but capitalistic assholes have to constantly fuck it all up. Money is not the problem, but the greed for more will kill us all.

[–] [email protected] -5 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Wait, you mean space Karen didn't come up with this idea first /sarcasm

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

What the fuck is this comment even supposed to mean?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Musk fans thinking he invented the electric car. I'm not sure though that anyone actually thinks that.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I don't disagree with that statement, but I'm not convinced that's what OC meant.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Pretty sure space Karen is a common nickname for musky boi

[–] [email protected] -1 points 11 months ago

Well that's just insulting to people named Karen.