The early history of HEVs can be traced back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Early electric vehicles were developed in the 1880s and 1890s, and some of these were powered by batteries that could be charged by an internal combustion engine.
Here is a timeline of key events in the development of hybrid electric vehicles:
- 1889: The first hybrid car was invented by William Morrison. It used a gasoline engine and an electric motor to power the wheels.
- 1900: Ferdinand Porsche designed a hybrid car that used an internal combustion engine to generate electricity, which was then used to power electric motors.
- 1916: The Woods Dual Power car was the first production hybrid car, built in Chicago.
- 1970s: The oil crisis led to increased interest in fuel-efficient vehicles, and hybrid technology began to receive more attention.
- 1997: Toyota introduced the Prius, the first mass-produced hybrid car, which used an electric motor and a gasoline engine to achieve improved fuel efficiency.
Over time, hybrid technology continued to develop and become more efficient. The invention of hybrid cars was a result of many years of innovation and research, with pioneers such as Morrison and Porsche playing pivotal roles in its development.
