DALLO SVILUPPO DELL’AUTOMOBILE ELETTRICA, RIFLESSIONI SULLA STORIA DELLA TECNOLOGIA

Abstract

Mention is made of the effort made by man to realize locomotion systems other than human or animal muscles. In particular, the medieval idea of Guido da Vigevano to create a cart driven by the wind is presented. We then move on to deal with the birth and evolution of the electrically powered car, born almost simultaneously with the thermal traction one. The electric car, due to its many advantages, has a greater diffusion: the electric traction allows to have no pollution in the city, while the thermal one allows to overcome the limits of the reduced autonomy a greater diffusion. With the progress of batteries, towards the Eighties a new interest in the electric car was born, which, starting from the beginning of the Twenty-first century, knows a new development. Of particular interest is the hybrid car, with electric and thermal motor: the electric traction allows you to have no pollution in the city, while the thermal one allows to overcome the limits of the reduced autonomy. From the examination of the history of the electric car, the interest in the history of technology arises: it can allow interesting ideas even today. From the examination of the history of the electric car, the interest in the history of technology arises: from the Turrinelli drawings in Istituto Lombardo, some examples are presented.