The first hybrid car was invented in 1900. The vehicle was the Lohner-Porsche Mixte, designed by a young Ferdinand Porsche. This car used a gasoline engine to power a generator, which then supplied electricity to motors located in the wheel hubs, a design known as a series hybrid. This early innovation highlights that the concept of hybrid technology is over a century old, even if it took many decades to become mainstream.
While the Lohner-Porsche was the first functional hybrid car, the technology evolved in distinct phases. The early 20th century saw several experimental models, but they were largely overshadowed by the rising popularity and lower cost of conventional gasoline engines. The modern era of hybrids began with the launch of the Toyota Prius in Japan in 1997, which brought the technology to a mass market and demonstrated its viability for reducing emissions and improving fuel economy.
The key difference between early and modern hybrids is the sophistication of the power control unit, which seamlessly manages the flow of energy between the gasoline engine, electric motor, and battery. The Prius's success proved there was consumer demand for more environmentally conscious vehicles and paved the way for the plug-in hybrids and fully electric vehicles we see today.
| Milestone Vehicle | Year | Key Innovation | Significance |
|---|
| Lohner-Porsche Mixte | 1900 | First functional hybrid car, using a gasoline generator for wheel-hub motors. | Proved the concept of hybrid propulsion. |
| Owen Magnetic | 1915 | Early hybrid using a gasoline engine to drive a generator for an electric motor. | A luxury car that was a technical precursor. |
| Toyota Prius (1st gen) | 1997 | First mass-produced hybrid, featuring Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system. | Made hybrids a practical, mainstream choice. |
| Honda Insight (1st gen) | 1999 | First hybrid sold in the United States, focusing on extreme fuel efficiency. | Brought hybrid competition to the U.S. market. |
| Chevrolet Volt | 2010 | Pioneered the extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) concept. | Introduced a plug-in hybrid with a significant electric-only range. |
