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Since 1997, people in Japan have been using hybrid cars. It is only in 2002 that this new innovation in automobiles have been brought in the United States by Honda Motors with its "Honda Insight" and the Toyota Motor Corporation with its "Toyota Prius ". But many people do not know that the world’s first hybrid car was built way back in 1899 by a young man named Ferdinand Porsche who was an engineer Jacob Lohner & Company.

Called "Mixte ," Porsche’s creation is today known as the "world’s first hybrid car" was because way back then, this man was able to see the potentials that hybrid automobiles can do.

Many people who are now using hybrid cars do not know it but this environment friendly technology has been around for 100 years. Although it has underwent a series of modifications and improvement, one thing stays the same — it’s mean to save the environment by letting people realize that they can ride into the bandwagon of modernity and efficiency without really destroying what Mother Nature has given them.

How it came to be

Many people believed that the hybrid cars were originated from Japan. Although this is true because the Japanese were the ones to reinvent the technology and introduced it to the larger scale of the market, the tribute should still be paid to the 100-year-old Porsche creator.

"Mixte" as it was called, was a car that had built in wheel electric motors combined with onboard gas. This combination was purposely designed for the engine to recharge the car’s batteries all by itself. With this initial attribute, this car is already considered a "serial hybrid " because a single engine drives the wheels. This car uses a parallel hybrid with both engines driving the wheels. This type of car was an initial breakthrough at that time where conventional cars are not using the same technology.

What sets "Mixte" apart was its in-wheel electric motors were specifically deigned to increase efficiency of the vehicle through the removal of everything that is mechanical in its parts. Another thing that sets it apart is that unlike one of its predecessors — the Volto — there is absolutely no need to plug it since it was designed not to have one.

Using a petrol-electric engine that was constantly rotating in a certain speed that was enough to drive a dynamo, "Mixte" fed current to electric motors. These motors have hubs in front of its wheels. With this design, transmissions, drive shafts, straps, gears, straps, clutch or chains were no longer needed. At that time, it was a brilliant discovery or invention because the simplicity of the car’s transmission used for operation, there was a great yield of 85 percent without losing the energy that has been produced by the mechanical friction .

Although this was a breakthrough at that time, Porsche was not able to see the reason why he should continue developing this technology in automobiles. You know why? Because at that time, gasoline was so cheap that people didn’t have to worry about their consumption with the use of conventional cars which they thought was faster and easier to use and maneuver.

Also, they did not see any reason why they should replace their conventional car into something that was not really introduced into the market yet. They thought that it was a waste of time buying something that is quite expensive because of the modern technology that was used in building it. They also saw the possibility that if they use a car that was not able to gain mass patronage yet, they will have a hard time getting spare parts and looking for people who has the expertise to fix a car such as those hybrid cars.

What Porsche did not realize is that the technology of hybrid cars will soon have a market because many people would be concerned in saving his of her environment. Maybe, he did not also anticipate that time will come wherein gasoline prices would increase its price just like what it is today.

In 1903 the so called, Lohner-Porsche was displayed at the Norvegian Technical Museum . It also appeared in the World Exhibition of Paris wherein the first hybrid car amazed and astonished the whole automobile industry. With its unique attributes, it was an initial crowd favorite. It’s success was not only visible on how motoring people reacted to it but because how it influenced the production of 300 more that was patterned after the design and the technology.

More Information on Green Living

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• Renewable Energy Solutions — "Family living off the grid with renewable energy takes know how and applies it to solar panels and wind generators."
• Build A Wind Generator — "For the past 15 years our family has been living off the grid with only solar and wind power. We moved to our present location, built our own house ourselves and set to work to find alternative energy options for our home that we could afford."

Recommended Reading (3 More Hybrid Vehicle Articles)

• Top 10 Best Hybrid Cars
• Hybrid Car Batteries
• Plug In Hybrid Cars

Fun Facts

The Lohner-Porsche ’s design was studied during NASA’s efforts to create the Apollo program’s Lunar Rover , and many of its design principles were mirrored in the Rover’s design. The series hybrid concept underpins many modern railway locomotives, and interest in series hybrid automobiles is rapidly growing. Although produced over 100 years ago, the car has more significance than ever.

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Getting To Know The History Of The Hybrid Car

It’s pretty interesting how people are becoming more aware of their environment nowadays. This can be seen on the increasing amount of environment friendly products in the market these days. Additionally, they’ve become aware of the various factors that contribute to the threatening pollution in the environment. Hence, companies started developing less toxic emitting products that also do well to the environment and one of the most prominent of this kind would be hybrid cars. As starter, here’s the history of the hybrid car .

It’s All About Steam

The concept of creating environment friendly or alternatively powered vehicles started with the idea of vehicles running with the use of steam . Between 1665 to1885 a couple of ideas regarding steam powered vehicles were noted. First off would be astronomer and Flemish Jesuit priest Ferdinand Verbiest, who had plans for a small four-wheeled unmanned steam car . Next would be Nicholas Cugnot who built a carriage powered by steam that was able to run for 6 miles/hour. Lastly would be Goldsworthy Gurney who was able to create a steam car that could run an 85 mile journey in just 10 hours.

Then Came Electricity

It was also quite early when people started conceptualizing and later on creating electricity powered cars . It was in 1839 when Scotsman Robert Anderson first created an electrically powered vehicle. Then, significant development was noted during the late 1800ís and early 1900ís. In fact, it was during this time when a lot of companies started making use of electricity to power their vehicles.

Electric Cabs and the History of the Hybrid Car

Additionally electrically powered cabs became prominent during the 1897, because this is when the London Electric Cab Company started their regular service by the use of cars which were made by Walter Bersey. It was called the Bersey Cab. This cab uses a 40-cell battery with a 3 HP electric motor. People were able to drive it 50 miles in between charges.

The First Porsche Hybrid

It was during 1898 when Dr. Ferdinand Porsche was able to build his very first car, which was called Lohner Electric Chaise . This car was also 1st front-wheel-drive. Then, the second car that he made was a hybrid. Here, he used an internal combustion engine so that the car’s generator would spin. In effect, it produced power to be used by electric motors, which could be found on the wheel hubs. Just using batteries, the car was able to travel about 40 miles. (Note: Read more about hybrid car batteries .)

Going Large Scale

In the past, manufacturers weren’t really able to create as much cars as they wanted. This is because they weren’t equipped with the right tools and machines to do so. However, as technology developed, car companies were able to make big batches of production.

In fact, by 1900, American car companies were able to create made 936 gasoline, 1,575 electric 1,681 steam car. People were also becoming more open with the use of electric cars . This can be seen on a poll which was conducted during the 1st National Automobile Show, where patrons actually favored electric cars for their 1st choice, while steam cars placed second on a very close fight.

During the first couple of years in the 20th century, thousands of hybrid and electric cars were actually created . However, when Henry Ford’s car line arrived along with the start of self-starting gas engines, this signaled the rapid decline of hybrid cars during 1920.

Fueled Cars Taking The Limelight

When fueled cars were introduced, this became a very significant period of time for hybrid cars . Simply because people started opting for gasoline fuelled cars than those that were hybrids. Additionally, car manufacturing companies, like Ford also created lines of gas fuelled automobiles that were quite cheap to buy. Since these cars were cheap, people started buying the cheap gas cars than those more expensive hybrid cars.

Hence, gas fueled cars took the limelight for quite some time. In fact, up to now, gas fueled vehicles are still on the spot light.

However, hybrid cars were still somewhere in the backdrop. Sadly, only those that were creating cars for themselves or those that stayed in rural areas and had the means to create their own cars still hold on to this kind of vehicle.

Nevertheless, people have become aware of the benefits of hybrid cars nowadays. Hence, they are coming back into the picture. Ironically, most people think that such cars were only invented recently. However the colorful history of the hybrid car simply shows that it started quite early and was only overshadowed by gas fueled cars due to convenience and money matters.

More Information on Green Living

• Convert Any Car to Electric — "All the steps are numbered with diagrams to be easy to follow. The conversion does not take too long, all you have to do is follow the simple plans I provide and in a month, you will cut your gas bill to zero."
• Renewable Energy Solutions — "Family living off the grid with renewable energy takes know how and applies it to solar panels and wind generators."
• Build A Wind Generator — "For the past 15 years our family has been living off the grid with only solar and wind power. We moved to our present location, built our own house ourselves and set to work to find alternative energy options for our home that we could afford."

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Due on the streets in 2009, the Cayenne Hybrid will reportedly deliver 400 pound-feet of torque and mate a 34kW motor to its 3.6 liter V-6. Considering the pounds added by the electric motor to the already tubby vehicle, it is likely the only improvement will be increased fuel mileage. (You wanted the truth, right?)

The company is aiming for a 25% improvement with the electric add-on, but do Porsche drivers with speed and handling in their psyches really care? When an oil change costs you around $200 to replace the synthetic oil in the mammoth sump, the cost of gas is probably not a big concern to you.

Here’s the deal. If I am going to lay out quite substantial bucks for a new Porsche, I want it to sound like one. The sneaky Toyota Prius purrs up to 35 mph is not what my ears want to hear. I want a roar of pure, unabashed Porsche power that echoed off Europe’s road courses and blasted the Mulsanne Straight . Quietly sneaking through the mall in search of a parking place demeans me and the proud Porsche line.

Twin chrome tail pipes speak of pressed back in your seat acceleration, not fewer stops between gas stations. Sure, the Hybridenne will have matte stainless steel in the right places, fine leather all over the place, and fit tolerances will be tight. But who cares if you sound like the neighborhood green wimp-mobile when you pussy foot away from the stop light? How can you sit with a proud face in a Porsche that whines while the guy in the pickup truck next to you revs his Duramax Diesel?

The Cayenne, hybrid or not, is a prime example of how auto makers lose their way trying to compete in arenas where they don’t belong. The Porsche marque reeks of high speed tight turns on twisty mountain roads while snugly bolstered in the driver’s seat with maybe a properly fitted overnight duffel tossed in the miniscule trunk. It speaks not at all of soccer moms, awkward furniture toted, luggage space, or number of passengers driven about with ample legroom.

Maybe the electric motor could be put to better use powering domestic appliances should the electric grid fail during a storm.

Porsche should stick to what it does best: building high performance autos of fine fit and finish that satisfy a driver’s need to growl. Leave the mundane kid toting, bike hauling transportation to the cup holder crowd. And for Pete’s sake, don’t let Mazda take all the vroom vroom.

More Information on Green Living

• Convert Any Car to Electric — "All the steps are numbered with diagrams to be easy to follow. The conversion does not take too long, all you have to do is follow the simple plans I provide and in a month, you will cut your gas bill to zero."
• Renewable Energy Solutions — "Family living off the grid with renewable energy takes know how and applies it to solar panels and wind generators."
• Build A Wind Generator — "For the past 15 years our family has been living off the grid with only solar and wind power. We moved to our present location, built our own house ourselves and set to work to find alternative energy options for our home that we could afford."