In 1881, French inventor Gustave Trouvé unveiled a compact electric tricycle at the International Exhibition of Electricity in Paris. Powered by a small charged battery driving an electric motor, it marked an early instance of electric propulsion in personal transport. This innovation highlighted the potential of electric vehicles to offer cleaner and quieter journeys. It was a pivotal moment in the shift from horse-drawn carriages to motorized vehicles, foreshadowing a future where urban transport might depend more on electricity than traditional fuels.