The History Of Hybrid Vehicles

Most cars run on a gasoline internal combustion engine. Hybrid gasoline/electric vehicles run on an engine which works cooperatively with an electric battery. This improves fuel efficiency and reduces emissions. Shutting down the gasoline engine and a process called regenerative braking are also used to conserve fuel and use the vehicle's momentum to recharge the electric battery.

Modern hybrid vehicles do not typically need to be plugged in or recharged. They keep themselves charged, instead. Modern hybrids with which you might be familiar include the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight. As well, a new line of trucks and SUVs are being developed with hybrid technology. These do not fare as well in regards to fuel efficiency as the smaller, lighter vehicles, because the amount of power needed for a truck or SUV is greater.

The first hybrid was a series hybrid vehicle designed by Ferdinande Porsche. It broke several Austrian speed records and won the Exelberg Rally in 1901. Woods Motor Vehicle produced a hybrid electric vehicle in 1915 that was capable of 35 mph top speed. About 600 were produced.

The first transistor based electric car, with electronic speed control that paved the way for today's hybrids, was built in 1959. More recently, in the 1970s, Victor Wouk produced a prototype electric hybrid drive train, but the program was killed by the EPA. The head of the EPA at the time has been accused of a cover up. Since then, no hybrid was put into mas production by a major manufacturer until the very end of the century.

The regenerative braking hybrid drive train in used to day was developed in 1978 be David Arthurs. The prototype Opel GT that he used exhibited fuel efficiency of around 75 miles per gallon. Plans for this vehicle are available through the Mother Earth News website. The widest use of hybrid technology between the development of this car and now was hybrid diesel-electric locomotives and submarines.

The first modern hybrid cars in mass production were the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius. Plug-in hybrids have also recently been developed. While this seems like a step backwards, it actually allows the car owner to make short trips without reliance on conventional fuel at all. The gasoline engine is reserved for longer journeys.

The first hybrid SUV was developed in 2005 - the Ford Escape. For 2007, Lexus is offering a hybrid of their GS sport sedan, and the Toyota Camry hybrid became available in summer of 2006 for the 2006 model year.

More and more manufacturers are using hybrid technology in their vehicles. Even conventional vehicles are using some of the fuel-saving techniques in the hybrid drive train to better their gas mileage.

Vehicle History