Electric cars were invented before internal combustion engine vehicles!
https://www.caranddriver.com/features/g43480930/history-of-electric-cars/But they had to wait a lot longer for functioning technology.
For Australia, with long distances and high energy requirements in temperature extremes, I think we are still not quite there for long distance travel.
Even in Europe, my 400 to 500 km a day max that I want to drive is probably do-able, but would require planing for overnight stops in hotels that have chargers (not already occupied) and not your average B&B.