I was sure that the electronic cigarette would be welcomed with open arms Who Invented Vaping, How Vaping Started: a History Business Insider When Were Vapes Invented? History of E Cigarettes OK Vape Hon Lik invented the e cigarette to quit smoking but now he's a dual user Vaping The Guardian BBC Audio Witness History The first commercially successful electronic cigarette The first smoker to try a nicotine vape ("e cigarette") was Hon Lik. He invented it to help himself quit smoking. He has vaped for 20 years, and is now 70 years old.