I’m always amused by those who apparently believe that the gasoline-electric hybrid automobile is a revolutionary technology. It is true that vehicles such as the Toyota Prius are well designed efficient vehicles. But there’s nothing inherently revolutionary about a vehicle powered by both a gasoline engine and an electric motor, with the gasoline engine used to charge the battery.

Indeed, the idea has been around for at least a hundred years, as shown by this example in the August 1914 issue of Popular Mechanics. This model appears to have an electric drive. The 10 horsepower gasoline engine powered a 5 kilowatt generator which in turn powered the motor. The battery could power the vehicle for about 20 miles without charging. Overall fuel economy was about 20-30 miles per gallon.