The Story Behind the First Hybrid Car - Built Over 100 Years Ago

Photo: 1901 Lohner-Porsche Mixte by MatthiasKabel, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Back in the late 1800s and early 1900s, cars were already around, but they were noisy, smelly and quite tricky to manage. There weren’t many filling stations, and electric batteries were weak. People were trying all sorts of ways to make cars better.

Enter Ferdinand Porsche - yes, that Porsche. Before his company became famous, he was very young (in his early 20s) and working in Vienna. He teamed up with a coach-builder named Jacob Lohner, who made carriages and early electric vehicles. Together, they tinkered with combining electric motors and petrol (gas) engines.

Image: Lohner Porsche (photo from 1902, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Here’s how the idea worked: The petrol engine wouldn’t drive the wheels directly. Instead it drove a generator, which then powered electric motors in the wheels (or other parts of the drive system). So you had both petrol and electric components - a hybrid. Pretty clever for the time.

The car that broke the mould

In 1900-1901 something special was built: the Lohner?Porsche Mixte. Some sources call an earlier prototype the “Semper Vivus”. This car had a petrol engine combined with electric motors in the wheel hubs. It came out of Vienna, Austria. The petrol engine charged the electric motors, which then moved the car.

What’s remarkable: this wasn’t some wild idea someone scribbled down. They built it, they drove it. For its era it was advanced. It had a top speed of roughly 37 km/h (about 23 mph) in one version. And yes - that’s slow compared to today’s cars, but think: roads were rough, tyres were basic, and “motoring” was still a novelty.

Why this matters

You might ask: “Why should I care about a car from 1900 if I’m looking at used cars in Greater Manchester?” Well, here’s what I reckon. That old hybrid shows how innovation starts with an idea, a need, and someone willing to try something different. At our showroom in Stockport, we deal with all kinds of cars: small hatchbacks, big SUVs, German machines, everyday run-arounds. Understanding the past gives you a chance to appreciate how far cars have come - so when you pick your next ride, you’re doing it from a place of knowledge.

Also: when you stroll past our cars at Greg Street in Reddish or Manchester Road, remember: 125 years ago someone was figuring out, “How do we get around with less fuss?” That idea still matters today - economy, efficiency, reliability - the same things our team at Dace Motor Company keep in mind when we stock and check vehicles.

The challenges that old car faced

Photo: Lohner-Porsche (1902)

It wasn’t easy back then. Imagine trying to make a petrol engine reliable and then making electric motors small and decent enough to work in a car. Infrastructure? Roads weren’t great. Fuel? For some places it was costly. Batteries? Heavy and weak. Engineers like Porsche and Lohner faced all kinds of hurdles.

For example: to make the electric motor weigh not too much, to make the delivery of power smooth, to keep the driver safe - each bit was a struggle. The Lohner-Porsche car used wheel-hub motors, which is wild if you think about it. That’s like the motor being inside the wheel, turning directly. These motors had to deal with road shocks, vibration, and very primitive materials compared to today.

Plus, production numbers were tiny. The early models weren’t mass-market as we see cars now in Stockport or Manchester. Some references say around 300 units made of one version. That shows how novel it was.

From that to what you see today

Fast forward now. Cars in Stockport - maybe you’re browsing a used Audi or BMW - the hybrid concept has become widespread. Today we see petrol-electric hybrids, plug-in hybrids, all kinds of variations. But the roots go back to Vienna, to 1900. It’s a reminder that sometimes ideas that seem futuristic actually started over a century ago.

At Dace Motor Company we look at used cars being sold, financed, traded in. Quality matters. And when you buy from us, you’re part of the chain of motoring history: that first hybrid experiment led to more efficient drives, which led to what many of us take for granted now.

What you can learn (and act on)

When you’re in the market for a used car (and yes we’re here seven days a week across Stockport and Manchester for that), keep a few things in mind - and you’ll see the connection to that old hybrid story.

First: efficiency matters. That old hybrid was trying to get more miles for less fuel, less fuss. You should check fuel economy, running costs. At our sites we check vehicle history, mileage, previous owners.

Second: reliability matters. That early hybrid had to deal with unknowns. Today, choosing a used car from a trusted dealer means fewer surprises. At Dace Motor Company we give you an in-house warranty, we do full checks. It’s akin to making sure the “hybrid idea” of the past doesn’t turn into a “broken down experiment” for you.

Third: value matters. The folks at that time were engineers, willing to try something new. In the used car world, you want someone who does the same but with proven systems. We price check daily, we guarantee value, and we’re trading standards approved. So you’re not buying a prototype that nobody understands - you’re buying something solid.

A little Manchester touch

Since you’re reading from around Manchester or Stockport, consider this: when you drive your car from our showroom in Reddish or Eccles out across the M60 or down through Stockport town, you’re using a legacy of motoring. Those early Viennese roads were nothing like the A6 or the M602. But the idea - “let’s go somewhere with something that works and isn’t totally mad” - that’s the same.

Maybe the next time you’re behind the wheel, you’ll think: I’m sitting in a car whose ancestors include that 1900 hybrid. I’m not in a Steam-age vehicle, but the spark of innovation is still there.

Why we bring this story up at Dace Motor Company

We’re not just selling used cars. We believe in giving you context. We believe you should feel confident. That old hybrid story? It shows that cars aren’t just metal boxes: they’re ideas, evolution, engineering, history. When you walk into one of our branches - maybe see a MINI, or a Volkswagen, or a Lexus - you should feel like you’re part of the bigger story.

And yes - we mention our dealer name not to brag but to remind you: whatever you’re looking for (small car, 4x4, German machine, something to run around Greater Manchester) we’ve got it. We also offer in-house warranty, full history checks, and finance options with soft searches (so your credit score isn’t hit). You’re not alone in your car buying. You’ve got a team behind you.

Some front-of-mind take-aways

• The first hybrid car was built well over a century ago by Ferdinand Porsche and Jacob Lohner in Vienna. 
• It combined a petrol engine to drive a generator and electric motors to move the wheels. A clever mix.
• It wasn’t perfect, it didn’t zoom like modern cars. But it set the stage.
• When you buy a used car today in Stockport or Manchester, you’re using the fruits of that experimentation.
• Choosing a reputable dealer (like Dace Motor Company) means you’re choosing quality, transparency, and history-aware care.

What I hope you’ll do

When you’re next browsing cars - maybe you’re thinking “should I trade this in?” or “should I finance a used one?” - take a moment. Think: how did this vehicle live? What checks has it got? Who’s selling it? At Dace Motor Company we take those questions seriously. We’re happy you’re reading this - means you care. And we care too.

So if you pop into our showroom in Reddish, or stock up on our site, and you spot something that ticks the boxes (make, model, budget, colour) ask about the history, ask for the warranty, ask for the finance with soft credit search. Just like that 1900 hybrid experiment turned into modern cars, your next car could be one you enjoy without worry.