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Electric Cars Are Not the Future. They Are the Past. The 1899 Land Speed Record Was Set by an EV.
Before Tesla, before the Prius, even before the Model T, electric cars dominated the roads. The 1899 land speed record was set by an EV named 'Jamais Contente.'
Key Takeaways
- •1899: 'Jamais Contente' sets land speed record at 65.79 mph, an EV
- •1900: 38% of American cars were electric, more than gasoline
- •The electric starter (1912) made gasoline cars practical and sidelined EVs for a century
- •2026: Electric cars finally reclaim their historical market share
Root Connection
The 'electric car revolution' isn't new. In 1900, 38% of cars in America were electric. The internal combustion engine won, temporarily.
Timeline
1832Robert Anderson invents first crude electric carriage in Scotland
1884Thomas Parker builds first production electric car in London
1899Camille Jenatzy's 'Jamais Contente' sets land speed record at 65.79 mph, first car to break 100 km/h
1900Electric cars outsell gasoline cars in America, 38% market share
1912Charles Kettering invents electric starter, makes gasoline cars practical
1920Gasoline cars dominate, electric cars disappear for 80 years
1996GM EV1, first modern electric car from a major automaker
2006Tesla Roadster announced, the electric car renaissance begins
2026Electric cars surpass 50% of new car sales globally, the cycle completes
On April 29, 1899, a Belgian race car driver named Camille Jenatzy climbed into a strange-looking vehicle. It was shaped like a torpedo, made of lightweight aluminum, and powered by electricity. He called it 'Jamais Contente', French for 'Never Satisfied.'
Jenatzy accelerated down the road in Achères, France. The 'Jamais Contente' hit 65.79 miles per hour, breaking the 100 km/h barrier for the first time in history. The land speed record now belonged to an electric vehicle.
This wasn't a fluke. At the turn of the 20th century, electric cars were the preferred choice for urban drivers. They were quiet, clean, and didn't require the dangerous hand-cranking that gasoline cars needed.
In 1900, 38% of cars in America were electric. Only 22% were gasoline-powered. The rest were steam-powered. Electric cars were particularly popular with women, they didn't require physical strength to operate and didn't emit fumes.
“In 1900, you could buy an electric car from over 100 manufacturers. They were quiet, clean, and easy to drive. Then gasoline got cheap and convenient.”
So what happened?
Two things: the electric starter and cheap gasoline.
“The 'Jamais Contente' wasn't just fast, it was a statement. Jenatzy was proving that electric could beat gasoline.”
In 1912, Charles Kettering invented the electric starter for Cadillac. Suddenly, gasoline cars didn't require hand-cranking. They became practical for everyday use.
Around the same time, the discovery of massive oil fields in Texas made gasoline cheap and abundant. The internal combustion engine won the battle, for the next 100 years.
Electric cars disappeared from the roads. They became a historical footnote, until the late 20th century.
In 1996, GM released the EV1, the first modern electric car from a major automaker. It was a commercial failure, but it proved the concept was viable.
Then came Tesla. In 2006, Elon Musk announced the Tesla Roadster, a high-performance electric sports car. It wasn't just practical. It was desirable.
Today, in 2026, electric cars have finally reclaimed their historical market share. Over 50% of new car sales globally are electric. The cycle that began in 1899 is complete.
The 'electric car revolution' isn't a revolution at all. It's a restoration. Electric cars aren't the future, they're the past, finally catching up to where they should have been all along.
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