The firm behind this plan was called the electric vehicle company. They wanted to go round the world as well. The idea was that they would then have this monopoly of electric transport, and people would not need to own their own cars. It turned out that it was making claims that weren't supported about what technology could do. So it was a sort of thoranos situation. People lost confidence in it,. That really dented people's enthusiasm and opinion of electric vehicles.
After a huge false start, electric cars are finally about to flourish. We speak with a technology historian about this all-too-common story, and what it means for innovation everywhere.