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In 1901 Ferdinand Porsche developed the Lohner-Porsche Mixte Hybrid, the first gasoline-electric hybrid automobile in the world. The hybrid-electric vehicle did not become widely available until the release of the Toyota Prius in Japan in 1997, followed by the Honda Insight in 1999.he hybrid-electric vehicle did not become widely available until the release of the Toyota Prius in Japan in 1997, followed by the Honda Insight in 1999.
Owners complain that some hybrid-car batteries conk out early. This under-the-hood shot of a Toyota Prius was taken when the car was introduced in Hakuba, Japan, on Nov. 12, 1997. It was the worldâs first gasoline-electric hybrid. Some hybrid owners are now discovering that their carâs battery (not shown) may need to be replaced, at considerable cost.