According to Hybrid Cars, the first hybrid was around 1888 so neither had the first. It also says that 1999 was the introduction of the Insight and 1997 was the introduction of the Prius.
wow.. this old debate toyota argues world wide... 97 was first with the prius in japan. then in 99 it was the insight in the U.S. then it was the prius in the U.S. in... oh.. i don't know the date.. think 2k? but if you own a honda.. you won't acknowlege the japan release and in that case.. yes.. for U.S. production.. it was Honda.
Prius has earned the title of first for quite a number of hybrid honors... like stealth, which the Honda owners still don't actually have. So just let them say what they want.
Prius. Dec 1997. Insight - 1999. Not only was it the first, but it was the first practical hybrid with 4 doors, 5 seats, a boot and A/C. Oh, and cruise control.. at least in Canadian models.
Actually there were a number of different gas-electric hybrids in the early days of the automobile before the ICE became the de-facto standard. That probably means 189x or 190x.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BayouBulldog @ Apr 18 2006, 07:53 AM) [snapback]241474[/snapback]</div> oh ya,,, cant forget his nuke-electric hybrid with the jet propulsion
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jfschultz @ Apr 18 2006, 07:18 AM) [snapback]241449[/snapback]</div> They had electric ambulances and cars in the late 1890's and early 1900's
