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Let’s test your knowledge of the eco-friendly car world and see if you know the answer.

A. 2004
B. 1997
C. 2000
D. None of the above

If you are thinking it’s A. 2004, no, the Toyota Prius was not the first electric car made. Actually, the Prius was first released in Japan in 1997. And no, B. 1997 is not the answer either. D. None of the above is the correct answer. The first Hybrid car was built in 1899. Yes, that’s correct, no typo here!

In 1899, an Austrian automobile builder by the name of Jacob Lohner wanted to make a vehicle that wasn’t as loud, smelly, and clunky as the gasoline-powered automobiles of the 1800s. Lohner asked Ferdinand Porsche to help him design an electric automobile. Porsche, the name most car lovers recognize instantly, was a young Austrian engineer at the time, just finishing his post-graduate studies when he invented the first battery-operated automobile, the Lohner-Porsche Elektomobil.

However, when Henry Ford invented the assembly line and started selling gasoline-powered automobiles at such affordable prices, the hybrid car soon faded from the market. Gasoline-powered vehicles were much more powerful and sold at much more affordable prices than the electric automobiles.

Renewed interest sparked again in the 1950s and 1960s when automobile manufacturers became more environmentally-conscious. Because of the rising prices of fuel, car manufacturers and government programs began to invest in researching a more fuel-efficient vehicle. It wasn’t until 1997 when Toyota introduced the Prius in Japan that the hybrid became popular again.

So, if you thought the answer was “B. 1997”, good job, you were half right. And, if you ever want to discuss hybrids with the pros, stop by your nearest Hilltop Tire Service. Our expert technicians are trained and certified to repair electric and hybrid vehicles.