In 1900, Porsche designed the world’s first functional hybrid car, the “Semper Vivus” (Latin for “always alive”). Photo courtesy of Porsche AGImage used with permission by copyright holder
It was 2010, at the famed Nürburgring, motor sports complex in Germany, when the first hybrid racer, the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid, debuted. In 2015, based on lessons learned on the 911, Porsche AG fielded an endurance racer, the 919 Hybrid, which took the first of three victories in a row at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. With all that success, you might think Porsche had discovered some new technology, but Porsche started with a hybrid way back in 1900. Yes, 1900.
Recommended Videos
Ferdinand Porsche, later the founder of the company of the same name, was fascinated by electricity even as a teenager. As early as 1893, the 18-year-old installed an electric lighting system in his parents’ house. That same year, Porsche joined Vereinigte Elektrizitäts-AG Béla Egger in Vienna. After four years there, he progressed from mechanic to head of the testing department.
While there, Porsche designed the Egger-Lohner Phaeton, which boasted an octagonal electric motor, in 1898. The Phaeton could reach 18 miles per hour and had a very limited range
The electric wheel hub motor was the next innovation by Porsche, in 1899. At the Paris Expo the following year, the Lohner-Porsche Electromobile debuted. The vehicle had a higher top speed of 23 miles per hour, however the range continued to limit the appeal of hybrid technology.
The Lohner-Porsche also demonstrated why electric mobility has failed over the decades: Despite its modest power output, the car weighed almost two tons. The lack of infrastructure and the short range put an end to electromobility for a long time.
One hundred years later, with the development of lithium-ion batteries suitable for use in vehicles and more stringent legal requirements for carbon dioxide emissions, the focus turned once more to electric drive systems. With the Cayenne S Hybrid in 2010, Porsche paved the way for electromobility in the 21st century.
Now, Porsche has entered the FIA Formula E race series with a newly developed powertrain. Here too, the close interaction of racing and series development ensures smooth feedback. Somewhere Ferdinand Porsche is smiling.
You can now buy a frunk fridge for your Model Y straight from Tesla
The $595 Dual Zone Fridge is built to fit the Model Y's frunk and runs off the car's 12V outlet. It's part of a wider Summer Collection that also adds gear for the Cybertruck.
If you're big on taking road trips with your Tesla, you're in for a treat. Tesla just updated its shop with a new Summer Collection of camping and outdoor gear built specifically for your car, and a few of those products solve problems you may have actually run into on the road.
BYD Seal 08 makes a splash for under $30K, and It gives the Tesla Model 3 a run for its money
More range, more interior, more spec, for less money than a Tesla Model 3. Just not in the US yet.
The Tesla Model 3 has spent years defining what a premium and functional EV should cost; that’s what we’re used to. However, BYD seems to think that number is way too high.
The Chinese automaker has unveiled a new flagship sedan, the Seal 08, that packs features you don’t normally expect from cars in this segment, blurring the line between affordable and luxury. And after reading its entire spec sheet, it’s actually the price that shakes me the most.
Tesla launches the six-seat Model Y Long Wheelbase in the US
The stretched electric SUV brings more space, more comfort, and up to 325 miles of range.
Tesla is giving the Model Y a little more breathing room. The company has officially launched the Model Y Long Wheelbase in the United States and Puerto Rico, introducing a stretched version of its best-selling electric SUV with a three-row, six-seat layout that's designed to make family road trips a lot more comfortable.
