Decades before Tesla, electric cars were popular

Why did they lose ground?

View in browser|nytimes.com June 2, 2025 More than a century before Tesla rolled out its first cars, battery-powered vehicles were so popular that, for a time, about a third of New York's taxis were electric. New York Public Library, via Science Photo Library What happened to early E.V.s? → MORE COVERAGE A Republican policy bill is targeting electric vehicles. → Is the answer to expensive cars a pickup truck without power windows? → The decade-long search for a battery that can end the gasoline era. → Sign up for the Climate Forward newsletter, for Times subscribers only. News and insights for a warming world. Get it in your inbox If you received this newsletter from someone else, subscribe here. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this message because you signed up for updates from The New York Times. To stop receiving From The Times, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018