History of Electronic Cigarettes

After almost 20 years of existence in France, where exactly do electronic cigarettes come from?

THE E-CIG, A FRENCH CREATION?

The very first patent for a vaporization device was filed in 1903. Henri Ferré, a pharmacist, created the tubular inhaler. The device was designed to create harmless white vapor, but was not intended as a substitute for tobacco. In 1906, he created two other prototypes, similar in appearance to a pipe and a chicha.

USA TAKES OVER!

In 1927, a second patent was filed by Joseph Robinson. He invented the medical electric steam engine. It works in much the same way as today's electronic cigarettes. The machine heats up electrically to produce steam for inhalation. However, it was not designed to reduce tobacco consumption.

40 YEARS LATER...

Pennsylvania-born inventor Herbert A. Gilbert conceived the very first electronic cigarette in 1963 and filed a patent. He called it the "Smokeless Non-Tobacco Cigarette". Its shape speaks for itself. Indeed, the first vapes of the 2000s were strongly inspired by it. Unfortunately, his project was not commercialized, due to the great popularity of tobacco and the lack of sufficiently advanced technology to produce it.

1980 AND ITS BRILLIANT INVENTION... OR NOT.

With cigarettes still in vogue, RJ Reynolds, a cigarette manufacturer, conceptualized a new-generation cigarette. It was a system for vaporizing real tobacco obtained from charcoal. Following the abject failure of his first model, he worked on a second, more elaborate version, but without the desired success.

THE NEW MILLENNIUM AND CHINA'S ENTRY INTO THE RACE

After 30 years of studies demonstrating the harm and dangers of combustion cigarettes, the e-cig as we know it today was born.

The idea came from a Chinese pharmacist by the name of Han Lik. An inveterate smoker concerned about his health, he filed his patent in 2004. Numerous companies took a keen interest and began producing their concepts. As China is a major player in the electronics and tobacco sectors, the technology is sufficiently developed for these designs. Thus, the first electronic cigarette was born, and with it major brands such as Kangertech®.

AND TODAY?

With advances in technology and production methods, we are witnessing a race to create ever more effective devices. In many countries, such as the United Kingdom, it is being promoted by the medical profession. Indeed, numerous studies show that it is the best tool for smoking cessation.

You can read « Quels conseils donner à un proche fumeur pour qu'il passe à la cigarette électronique », as well as « L'arrêt du Tabac ».