History of the Hybrid Car

Video Transcript

"Hi, I'm Kyle with Toyota, Tampa Bay, and I'd like to talk to you a little bit about the history of hybrid cars. Now, the idea of hybrid vehicles is a relatively new topic to a lot of people, but what most don't realize is there's actually a lot of history behind hybrids. Hybrids, in general, is just any any form of two propulsion systems. A mope, moped for example, uses personal power, and also a gas engine. Most of our diesel locomotives out there use a diesel engine and electric generators to move all your freight across country. Now, hybrids in vehicles actually started out around the early nineties. The U.S. government was giving out big grants to the auto manufacturers to develop more fuel-efficient cars. They were actually pushing that to the big three. Chevy, in general, was getting a majority of the money to try to develop the technology. Now, Toyota invested their own money, came up with a new hybrid system in what has now set milestones, in the Prius. They've broken over a million sales with the with the Prius, and it's become kind of the staple of what hybrid cars are today. Now, as far as production Toyota had a fully functional hybrid available in the late nineties. As early as 1999 they had the Prius out, and full sale throughout Japan. Now, the vehicle was so successful over there that in 2000 they brought it over here. We've gone through several changes over the years. The hybrid systems have become more fuel-efficient yet able to produce more power in a larger vehicle, reduced emissions in lighter weight cars that use, put less waste back into the environment. They've come a long way over the years, and now, because the Prius has been so successful they've branched out into other areas with the country's most popular sedan, the Toyota Camry, and also the need for full-size SUV's. They've come out with a hybrid version of the Toyota Highlander hybrid. Toyota has shared their hybrid technology with some of the auto manufacturers to help that technology branch out and become more abundant for the everyday consumer. It's been beneficial in bringing the prices down, and also spreading general awareness of hybrid vehicles. I'm Kyle Sperry, with Toyota, Tampa Bay, and that's just some of the history of Toyota hybrids."