Thomas Edison talks about electricity - archive, 25 November 1896

25 November 1896: The American inventor discusses future developments such as electric-powered motor vehicles and renewable sources of energy

The "Telegraph" publishes an account of an interview which its New York correspondent had on Monday with Mr. Edison regarding the probable future developments of electricity for locomotive, domestic, and commercial purposes. The following is an extract: -

We began with the subject of the propulsion of motor cars. For these, at present, he considers that the best form of motor lies between steam and the gas engine. The advantage might at any moment change to electricity, but such an occurrence depended wholly upon the discovery of some more efficient and stable system of storage batteries. Excessive weight, cumbrousness, and other drawbacks stand in the way of stored-electricity as a motive power. "I think," he added, "that we are on the eve of a great extension of motor vehicles."