Well before the hybrid vehicles of today came onto the scene, there were people in the past using hybrid technology to develop new ideas. When we think of hybrids, we often think about today, but a lot can be learned when we look at yesterday.

1. In 1769, they were already thinking of how to build a better, more efficient vehicle. The steam powered motor carriage was made by Nicholas Cugnot.

2. In 1839, trendsetters sailed on the first electric boat, which used technology that would later help in the development of electric vehicles.

3. It may not have been debuted to the world, but records show that in 1897, the first hybrid car was built by Justus B. Entz. The car used an assisted electric motor as a power source.

4. In 1899, “Mixie” was built by Ferdinand Porsche. Mixie was one of the first hybrid vehicles shown to the world, even though it did not make it into mass production.

5. In the early 1900s, thousands of electric trucks and delivery vehicles were used

6. 1903 saw the beginning of the Krieger Hybrid, which was very similar to Mixie. It ran on a battery pack. Due to record keeping in the early 1900s, there is not an accurate gauge of gas mileage of this vehicle.

7. In 1905, hybrid technology was getting interesting. H. Piper filed for a patent for a gasoline engine-electric motor power train.

8. In 1914, a hybrid vehicle was developed that could get 70mpg, which would astound drivers today

9. In 1918, Woods Motor Vehicle Company started the production of their “dual power” vehicle in the United States.

10. The introduction of the Hybrid Buick Skylark cannot be forgotten. It hit the roads in 1972, driven by Victor Wouk.

By the time the Toyota Prius made it to the roads, it was actually the product of years of hard work. As hybrid technology grows, we cannot help but look back at what the people before us have offered to hybrid technology. If it hadn’t been for that Hybrid Buick Skylark, we might still be living in a gas guzzling world.

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Filed Under: Autos, electric vehicles

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