Hybrids Cars History: A long journey to a commercial success

Hybrid cars are a craze today and are going towards a big commercial success, but it too had a long journey, which started in 1897. In this year, the first attempt was made to combine internal combustion engine with electric power.

After 13 years, an attempt was made by Pieper to make a true hybrid car. He developed 3.5 hp voiturette in which he used a small gasoline engine in conjunction to a electric motor. The car while running used electric motor used, acted as a generator to recharge the battery, but while climbing steep roads, battery power was used to assist the gas engine to give it a boost. The same technology in advanced form is used in Honda hybrid cars as IMA system.

Another try cam from Jacob Lohner, Porsche. He developed a car where two electric motors were used which used to run the two front wheels. But the cars made by these people have a major drawback, which did not allowed it to become commercial success. The batteries used in the cars were very heavy and the battery used was able to store only a small amount of energy.

Later Daimler Motors hired Porsche in 1906 and made Mercedes-Electrique-Mixte under his guidance. Would continue more to it soon.