What happens in a theoretical world where electric cars are banned? In this alternate simulation, Jason and Derek imagine a world where electric cars make another disappearance into the depths of history and the consequences that might follow. They also travel down the rabbit hole of alternative fuels and reveal their current disdain of hydrogen fuel cell technology and government handling of alternative fuel distribution. In this current simulation, however, it seems fairly predictable that automotive evolution will give full way to the electric vehicle.

But the popularity of electric vehicles once rose and gave way to gasoline in the early 1900s. To explore where society has come and gone with EVs, Jason and Derek hop in a non-Delorean time machine and explore the beginnings of personal automobiles during a time when steam power, electricity, and gasoline, and diesel lived in harmony and why fossil fuels ultimately prevailed in history.

This leads to a discussion of other general automotive technologies that have standardized or suffered over the years, including but not limited to two-pedal manual transmissions, cylinder deactivation, early CRT touch screens, and other strange and successful engineering choices made by manufactures throughout history. Perhaps Chrysler’s Electronic Voice Alert system will make a comeback someday…

All this and more, brought to you by the Hagerty Podcast Network.

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