First hybrid patent awarded 100 years ago this month
The first known hybrid was developed by the original Ferdinand Porsche back around the beginning of the twentieth century. The first U.S. hybrid patent, though, was granted to German-born inventor Henri Pieper around the same time, on March 2, 1909. The patent was awarded for something Pieper called "Mixed Drive for Autovehicles," and in his application, submitted in 1905, he wrote that:
The invention...comprises an internal combustion or similar engine, a dynamo motor direct connected therewith, and a storage battery or accumulator in circuit with the dynamo motor, these elements being cooperatively related so that the dynamo motor may be run as a motor by the electrical energy stored in the accumulator to start the engine or to furnish a portion of the power delivered by the set, or may be run as a generator by the engine, when the power of the latter is in excess of that demanded of the set, and caused to store energy in the accumulator.
For more on the hybrid patent, including Pieper's rudimentary battery- and engine-management system, check out Hybrid Cars. For more on how today's hybrids work, read this.
[Source: Hybrid Cars]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
GoodCheer 5:22PM (3/10/2009)
Holy cow Sebastian, good find.
I wonder if it was this guy's fault that hybrids took 90 years to get any traction. Also... that starter motors and alternators have been attached by belts and other wonky arrangements.
Reply
Sebastian 5:38PM (3/10/2009)
Thanks, but give the props to HybridCars.com
Sam 5:26PM (3/10/2009)
Is there anything the German's haven't invented?
Reply
Brn 6:03PM (3/10/2009)
I thought Toyota invented the hybrid?
Reply
randomdude 10:17AM (3/11/2009)
No, as mentioned in the article Porsche developed the first hybrid called Lohner-Porsche Mixte Hybrid. It was the fastest car at that time (60 km/h).
Furthermore beginning of the 90s first Audi (80 duo) and then VW (based on the Golf, iirc) build and sold hybrids. But they were too expensive, so they hardly sold any cars (less than 200, iirc). Their conclusion was: no one wants these cars, so we'll stop bulding them.
Brn 11:38AM (3/11/2009)
It took longer than I thought for someone to "correct" me. :)