Energy History By pdagenhart Jan 1, 1800 First electric battery invented by Alessandro Volta. The “volt” is named in his honor. Jan 1, 1821 The first electric motor was invented by Michael Faraday. Jan 1, 1826 Georg Ohm defined the relationship between power, voltage, current and resistance in “Ohms Law.” Jan 1, 1835 Joseph Henry invented the electrical relay, used to send electrical currents long distances. Jan 1, 1839 Sir William Robert Grove developed the first fuel cell, a device that produces electrical energy by combining hydrogen and oxygen. Jan 1, 1844 Samuel Morse invented the electric telegraph, a machine that could send messages long distances across wire. Jan 1, 1881 The electric streetcar was invented by E.W. v. Siemens Jan 1, 1882 Thomas Edison opened th Pearl Street Power Station in New York City. Jan 1, 1911 Electric air conditioning – W. Carrier. Jan 1, 1923 Photoelectric cells were discovered.