"In 1914: 38% of all the cars on the road were electric; 22% gasoline, 40% steam powered."[0] "by 1917, only 50,000 electrics were registered compared to 3.5 million IC cars. Steamers were all but gone"[1]

Assuming both sets of stats are correct, it sounds like something happened between 1914 and 1917 that led to the switch from electric (or steam) cars to ones powered by internal combustion engines. Perhaps the First World War?

[0] Parent comment reference, i.e. http://www.edisonmuckers.org/edisons-cars/

[1] Main story link, i.e. https://longreads.com/2019/06/13/we-could-have-had-electric-...