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When did the first hybrid electric car come out?

I’ve been thinking about switching to a hybrid model car to save money on gas, and I was wondering how long this type of car has been on the market. When did the first hybrid electric car come out?

avatar
Allison Stone · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
The first hybrid car was actually built way back in 1899 by Ferdinand Porsche, but it wasn’t until nearly a century later that a mass-market hybrid car became available. That car was the
Toyota Prius
.
While the Prius was introduced to the world in 1997, it didn’t make its way to the U.S. until later. The first hybrid sold in the U.S. was the
Honda Insight
in 1999.
The success of the Prius became a launching pad for other electric vehicle technology to take off, and just a few years later in 2010, Tesla Motors would receive a $465 million loan from the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office.
A hybrid vehicle like a Prius is still a great choice to save money on fuel, while still being able to rely on the convenience of filling up at a gas station. To get the best possible deal on
car insurance
for a hybrid car, download the
Jerry
app.
In less than a minute, Jerry gathers quotes from top name-brand insurance companies to find out if you’re getting the best deal. The average Jerry user saves over $800 a year!
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