A brief history of electric vehicles and oil | Dan Snow & Fully Charged

In this episode Robert Llewellyn enjoys a remote chat with our special guest: historian Dan Snow (History Hit TV), where they discuss the potted history of oil and electric vehicles.
Covering topics including: Britain’s coal reserves and its role as a fuel exporter, the whale oil boom in New England coastal towns, the rapid change from horse-drawn to petrol and combustion engine vehicles in the USA, the early success of electric vehicles, then losing the battle with combustion engine vehicles, electric ‘street cars’ or trams (and their dangers!), the oil industry boom in the USA, the place of oil in world conflicts, the impact of fuel crises around the world, especially in the 1970’s & renewable technology developments and the impact on the fossil fuel industry.

Dan’s shows are available here:

Presented by Robert Llewellyn @bobbyllew
Edited by Stuart Lanceley @slanceley

Still images featured in this episode:
“World’s Busiest Railways” production photo, (copyright Backpack Films)
“Oil Casks, New Bedford, Massachusetts, late 1800s”
(Courtesy of the New Bedford Whaling Museum)

All other images Public domain / Wikipedia:
100-Mile Fritchle Electric Automobile (1908) (ADVERT 104).jpeg

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[markiliff]

Dan Snow is never less than enthralling, but this was a cut above even that high standard. The way he managed to deal all the snippets into the conversation in the right order at the right level, and with such enthusiasm... just buzzing from this. Thank you.

[indieclubhouse]

History of oil was eye-opening and fascinating.

[GreenShogun]

This was too short, could have listened for hours! 👍

[markyboyclark]

I started to watch this and had very low expectations about how entertaining the content would WOW. What a completely worthwhile episode that seems to set the scene for the future (by looking at the past) after all we have been through fighting this virus.
Sometimes things come along before their time, but the time is now for clean energy and transport, it's perfect. OK, not all that perfect as many people have lost their livelihoods (and lives, sadly 😥) but we will come out of this stronger and better. 🙂
Thank you Dan and Robert. 👍

[alicetronics-jaycarsplatin]

Ahh that's why they were called Tram "Conductors!"

[nitesh-maharaj]

This episode was absolutely brilliant. I’d love to see more of this type of content

[Error]

The fact that renewable energy means power independence is fascinating

[MrEddiekessler]

Both of you, , , A great Great Great Show. I learned so much in what, 24/25 minutes. Incredible !

[joelrampersad]

I only planned to watch the first couple of minutes. 23 minutes later, I was still watching, fascinated, and resolved to watch Dan Snow again.

[JohnGibsone]

Brilliant episode, especially given the constraints you and your team are working under.

[RTam]

Absolutely fascinating. So many different corners that could have been taken. History is never boring but Dan makes it riveting.

[bluceree]

Churchill's role in oil is massively understated.

[mwnciboo]

Make this a monthly thing....top class.

[chrisnorman]

Always a good moment when another quality Fully Charged Show video comes out. Hat off to the Fully Charged team as always. Edit* Dan Snow is an amazing chap, enjoy his energy and love for history as I believe most of us do too :)

[alaneasthope]

Wow! What a knowledgeable man. He connects the dots between seemingly unconnected events in history and WHAM. Suddenly everything seems so obvious. Brilliant interview. Kudos to Fully Charged.

[jarthurs]

Had the First World War not intervened Henry Ford might have managed to produce the Edison-Ford EV.

"I believe ultimately that the electric motor will be universally used for trucking in all large cities, and that the electric automobile will be the family carriage of the future". - Henry Ford, 1914

[georgegeorgiy]

Truly Brilliant Episode. I love history. 😍
Hopefully we'll see more of that kinda episodes.
With love from France 🙂

[DocOlly]

Wow that 25 min bit shows more insight into how history shows how everything is connected together and shows the lessons from the past will be pathway to the future.

[Theoneandonly-JM]

Very well presented but most of all informative and interesting to watch - well done!! 😀

[pinkelephants]

Just wanted to have something to listen to as I was attending to a tedious task and, as I enjoyed this so much the 1st time around, decided to take a second crack at it - well worth a second bite of the cherry 🍒.