Summary: Brief history of the different propulsion technologies used in the earlier automobiles.
History of Automobile Propulsion
- Hydrogen: Used in the first internal combustion vehicle in 1806.
- Electricity: First seen in a vehicle in 1832. These were considered superior because they were quiet, until the invention of the muffler in 1897.
- Steam: Was used into the 1930s.
- Gas Turbine: Used into the 1950s in prototypes, but never reached production.
- Gasoline: First used in 1885, took over early into the 20th century.
In 1900, American car companies made 1,681 steam, 1,575 electric and 936 gasoline cars. A poll conducted at the first National Automobile show in New York City found attendees favoring electric, followed closely by steam.