First Hybrid Car

First hybrid car was a Lohner-Porsche hybrid car, designed by Ferdinand Porsche, and released to the public in 1902.

Ferdinand's son, Ferry, is the man behind the launch of the Porsche car as it stands today.

The Lohner-Porsche car was designed with in-wheel electric motors and an on-board gas engine to recharge the batteries.

The set up is that of a serial hybrid, where only one engine drives the wheels, and in this case, the electric engine. A modern version of this set up is the Chevy Volta.

The other option is a parallel hybrid set up, where both engines drive the wheels. This set up is available in cars like the Prius.

The in-wheel electric motors increased the vehicle's efficiency by removing all mechanical parts. Unlike the modern day Checy Volt, the Lohner-Porsche hybrid could only be charged by its onboard engine, meaning it was not a plug-in hybrid.

Here's a picture of the Lohner-Porsche:

Lohner-Porsche 1902 Mixtewagen

If you'd like to see the first hybrid vehicle in real life, the car is in display at the Deutsches Technikmuseum in Berlin.


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