When was the hybrid car invented?

There's no single inventor or specific date for the "invention" of the hybrid car. The concept has been around for over a century, with various iterations and developments over time. Here's a simplified timeline:

* Early 1900s: The first hybrid vehicles were created using steam engines and electric motors.

* 1910s - 1930s: Several hybrid car prototypes were developed, but none achieved commercial success due to limitations in technology and battery capabilities.

* 1970s: Energy crises and environmental concerns revived interest in fuel-efficient vehicles, including hybrids. Several experimental hybrids were built, paving the way for modern technology.

* 1997: The Toyota Prius, widely considered the first commercially successful modern hybrid car, was launched in Japan.

Therefore, while the concept of hybrid vehicles has a long history, the modern hybrid car as we know it today can be traced back to the late 1990s with the introduction of the Toyota Prius.