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While electric cars are just now starting to break into the mainstream auto market, it should be noted that they have a far longer history than most are aware. For instance, this is the Roberts electric car, from 1896. A mere 115 years ago, before Ford's model T or heavier-than-air flight, the one-of-a-kind Roberts could go for an impressive 40 miles on a single charge. Coincidentally, this is the same range advertised for the Chevy Volt, the combination electric-gas plugin hybrid car that much of the restructured General Motor's hopes are riding on. Of course, the Roberts lacks much of what we'd expect with a car today. Things like inflatable tires, safety belts, or a steering wheel -- instead, drivers use a control rod called a "tiller." Amazingly, this century-old vehicle is still on the road having recently competed in a 60-mile vintage automobile race from London to Brighton. Seeing what the Roberts is capable of, it's a testament to both 19th century engineering and how distressingly slow the development of electric vehicles has been. Read on after the break for a video of another electric classic, the 1914 Detroit Electric -- some of which were capable of running nearly 100 miles on a single charge.

Chevrolet has confirmed that the Chevy Volt will cost $41,000 before taking tax rebates into account. Chevy says that the electric car, which has a range of 340 miles before recharging, will sell 10,000 units in California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Washington, D.C., Michigan, and Texas, before expanding to the national market in 2012. It starts shipping later this year. [via CNET]