Back to the Past: The History of Hybrids

Technology Resuscitates the Gasoline-Electric Hybrid

Timing is often everything in the automotive world. Take American engineer H. Piper for example. In 1905, Piper filed a patent for a gasoline engine-electric motor powertrain—a hybrid. But unlike today, the purpose of Piper's hybrid design wasn't to increase a vehicle's fuel mileage and lower its emissions. According to the patent application, an electric motor would augment a gasoline engine, allowing a vehicle to accelerate from zero to 25 miles an hour in a sizzling 10 seconds—three times faster than contemporary cars.

Complete Article