498. In the 1890s, the Best-Selling Car Was … Electric

498. In the 1890s, the Best-Selling Car Was …...

Up next

Are You Really Allergic to Penicillin? (Update)

Like tens of millions of people, Stephen Dubner thought he had a penicillin allergy. Like the vast majority, he didn’t. This misdiagnosis costs billions of dollars and causes serious health problems, so why hasn’t it been fixed? We find out in this update of a 2025 episode. SOURC ...  Show more

How a Great Architect Thinks, with Bjarke Ingels | Better in Person

Is the oxymoron really “the secret sauce to everything”? That’s the case Ingels makes in this debut episode of our new video show Better in Person, filmed in Stephen Dubner’s living room. If you'd like to see the video version of Better in Person, watch it on YouTube or Apple Pod ...  Show more

Recommended Episodes

Electric Cars
ICYMI

Electric cars have probably been around a lot longer than you thought. This explainer looks into their history, and how it is hoped they can help reduce the impact cars have on the environment. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details 

It’s Electric! The history of electric cars
Forever Ago

Electric cars may seem like the latest technology, but they were actually first invented in the late 1880s! So what happened to the electric car? And why aren’t all cars electric today? Buckle your seatbelts and get ready for the ride of a lifetime as Joy and cohost Lilike learn ...  Show more

The Electric Car Goes Mainstream
Land of the Giants

Before Teslas were everywhere, they were playthings for the rich and famous. Building its first affordable car made Tesla a breakout success, but it nearly bankrupted the company. This is the story of how the Model 3 changed Tesla and the entire auto industry. Learn more about yo ...  Show more

The first modern electric car
Witness History

This electric car revolution is finally on the horizon: many car manufacturers have promised to make only electric vehicles in the near future, in response to the climate emergency. But the first mass-produced modern electric car, the General Motors EV1, was launched back in 1996 ...  Show more