Considering all the excitement of hybrid energy vehicles, HEVs, the first such vehicle was actually developed by the Greeks for use in their warships. It was a sailing vessel that included oars for use when the wind wasn't favorable to moving the ship. In more recent times, the history of hybrid power encompasses the moped and electric bicycles that used either gas or electric motors coupled with muscle power to move the vehicles. However, in modern times, the history of hybrid cars didn't begin until around 1905.
Although the concept of combining an electric motor with a gasoline engine dates back to 1905, the abundance of oil and the more powerful gasoline engines put the idea in storage. During the oil shortages of the 1970s the history of hybrid cars received a boost as the United States started looking for ways to save gasoline. As oil again became more plentiful, the idea was shelved once more. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Toyota looked at the $3 per gallon price of gasoline in Japan and got serious about developing a true hybrid energy vehicle, unveiling the Prius in Japan in 1995. Its aggressive approach to development of the Prius made it the first production vehicle to hit the market in 1997 and within three years secured its place in the history of hybrid cars with over 50,000 units sold.
In 2000, Toyota had sold 12,500 hybrids in Japan and another 6,500 to overseas markets and by 2005 sold another 49,000 in Japan with an additional 145,000 to its overseas markets. Hitting sales approaching 200,000 units in the 10 short years of its technological breakthrough, the history of hybrid cars began to speed up with the development of HEVs in larger wheel-based vehicles, trucks and buses.
Saving money of gasoline as well as offering less of an environmental impact became the selling points during the history of hybrid cars and as people began to realize they were not losing as much power as they initially believed, the popularity of hybrid vehicles began to grow. With cars with many of the popular options available on larger cars such as power windows and door locks, air conditioning and without the need to plug the car into an outlet to recharge its batteries, hybrid vehicle sales went ballistic. While the Toyota Prius may be listed as the first production hybrid vehicle and has a permanent place in the history of hybrid cars, it is by no means the end of technological advances. As more companies continue their work on hybrid energy vehicles, more offerings are on the drawing board as well as on their way to production.
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First of all, a hybrid car is a vehicle that uses on-board RESS, or rechargeable energy storage system. This is coupled with a fueled propulsion power source for the automobiles propulsion. The Hybrid car is a low-gas consuming vehicle, therefore, a low-polluting vehicle.
The last characteristic is particularly important because of the growing consciousness of people worldwide on the need to protect the environment.
History points to the clear differences between hybrid and all-electric cars. Electric cars use batteries charged by an external source. On this note, almost all hybrids, save for those considered as mild-hybrid, still need gasoline or diesel as their fuel source. Other fuels are also available in the form of ethanol or other plant based oils. Hybrid vehicles also use hydrogen gas occasionally.
What is the history of hybrid cars?
The history of hybrid cars is closely intertwined with the history of the automobile itself. In 1898, Ferdinand Porsche, a young Czechoslovakian, designed the Lohner-Porsche carriage, a series-hybrid vehicle that utilized a one-cylinder gasoline internal combustion engine. This engine spun a generator which powered four wheel-mounted electric motors.
The car was eventually presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris. The said automobile, capable of up to 56 km/h (35 mph) fast destroyed several Austrian speed records. In 1901, it won the Exelberg Rally, with Porsche himself driving the car. Mass production during this time was yet to be developed, but for Porsches future-looking design, 300 units of this model were sold to the public.
The first Porsche model however, technically speaking as we know Porsch today, was a hand-built aluminum prototype, and was completed on June 8, 1948.
The development of the first transistor-based electric car in 1959, the Henney Kilowatt, heralded a new development in the history of automobiles as a whole, and the history of hybrid cars in particular. This transistor-based electric car, paved the way for the electronic speed control. Ultimately, this made the road for the development of modern hybrid electric cars possible.
The Henney Kilowatt was considered the first modern electric car. It was a product of collaborative work between the National Union Electric Company, Henney Coachworks, Renault, and the Eureka Williams Company. Whilst the sales of the Kilowatt during this time were far from encouraging, its development served as the prototype for the other automobiles down the line of hybrid cars.
Between the 1960s and 1970s, another prototype of the earlier electric-hybrid vehicle was built by Victor Wouk. Wouk is among the scientists involved with the development of the Henney Kilowatt automobile. For this work, some historians bestowed upon him the honor being the Godfather of the Hybrid hybrid car.
For his pioneering work, Wouk installed a sample electric-hybrid drivetrain into a 1972 Buick Skylark, courtesy GM for the 1970 Federal Clean Car Incentive Program. The program was later axed by the EPA in 1976. Hybrid enthusiast and supporters continued building hybrid automobiles. These models however, were not put into mass production.
In the fading years of the twentieth century however, the history of hybrid cars has taken on a new course.
1978, the regenerative-braking hybrid, was developed by Electrical Engineer David Arthurs. The said regenerative-braking is to have become the core design concept of most hybrids, currently available in the market. The first attempt of Arthurs used off-the shelf components, including an Opel GT. But the voltage controller that links to the battery motor and the DC generator belonged to Arthurs.
Fast forward in the 1990s
The history of hybrid cars took the final step to modernity in terms of mass production during the Bill Clinton administration. Clinton initiated the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles program in September, 1993, that involved the Department of Energy, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, USCAR, and various governmental agencies. The partnership was tasked to engineer a modern efficient and clean vehicle.
In 2001, this program was replaced George W. Bushs own hydrogen focused FreedomCAR initiative. The focus of the FreedomCAR initiative was to fund research that is considered high risk for the private sector to engage in. The long term purpose of which is the development and production of petroleum emission.
The success of hybrid vehicles in terms of mass production however, became a reality, when the Japanese car manufacturer entered the American market. This is when the history of hybrid cars finally took its modern development. Honda Insight and Toyota Prius became the modern progenitor of modern day hybrid vehicle available today in the market.
Both James Gunaseelan & T J Madigan are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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