In Sweden, on October 7th, we celebrate Electric Motor Day, established by ELR (Elektromekaniska Lindningsverkstädernas Riksförbund) to highlight the power of electric motors in our daily lives. Let’s take a brief journey from the discovery of magnetism to electric cars.

It all began with Faraday

In the early 17th century, scientists began experimenting with static electricity, but it wasn’t until 1821 that British physicist Michael Faraday successfully built a simple electric motor that converted electrical energy into motion using electromagnetism. The Hungarian engineer Ányos Jedlik further developed Faraday’s discovery, creating a small model car with a motor in 1829.

Hight of Industrial Revolution

The 19th century was an exciting time for researchers and physicists, with rapid innovations and discoveries, such as Thomas Edison’s breakthrough in direct current (DC) in the 1870s, leading to inventions like the light bulb. In the 1880s, Serbian-American Nikola Tesla developed alternating current (AC) motors, a precursor to today’s electric motors.

Electric Motors for Future Innovations

Throughout the 20th century, electric motors became integral to various industries, including manufacturing, transportation, and energy. Today, 200 years after Faraday’s discovery, electric motors play a significant role in future innovations, thanks to the development of electric vehicles, ranging from cars to heavy trucks, boats, and trains. Exciting times lie ahead for those working on electronic vehicle solutions!

If the name Faraday sounds familiar, you may have heard of Faraday’s cage—an enclosure shielded from electromagnetic interference, named after Michael Faraday. But that’s a history lesson for another time.