Who killed the hybrid car? It seems that 100 years before the Prius was mass produced Porsche sold what was the first hybrid gas electric car. The vehicle used a gas engine to run an electric generator which powered the motor, allowing a battery to run the car if it ran out of fuel. Built in 1900, none of the original cars exist so it was painstakingly recreated to be put on display at this year’s New York Auto Show. Link
The early history of Porsche reveals that they often made far more money marketing their technology to other companies, than from automobile sales. Being a small but very advanced firm, they couldn't build cars in high enough volume to earn strong profit, but their transmission designs could earn them a fortune without their having to invest a single DM on tools or parts. Almost makes them seem more like a software firm than a manufacturer.
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