Electrification has been the key to the automotive industry in the last decade. But the truth is that there were already approaches to this technology more than a century ago. In fact, it may be that first hybrid dates back to 1900because with the beginning of the 20th century an innovative vehicle arrived that did not leave anyone indifferent. Presented at the Palace of Electricity at the Universal Exhibition in Paris, the Lohner-Porsche Semper Vivus It was a model that mounted electric motors to revolutionize the scene.
Ferdinand Porschefounder of the company with his name, was barely 24 years old in 1900, but his desire to innovate was highly developed. He worked together with the Austrian company, Jacob Lohner & Co.to co-design a car that would change everything. Two years earlier they had created the Egger-Lohner C.2 Phaeton, with a quite creative octagonal electric motor. But nothing to do with the solution introduced by the Lohner-Porsche Semper Vivus, despite having a development of just ten weeks.
This original car, which was rather the evolution of a carriage, introduced the wheel hub motor. Like some current models, a mechanism was integrated inside the wheel to save space and achieve direct power transmission. This system, called Lohner-Porsche, was modular and could be adapted to three wheel sizes, with powers of up to 12 HP per wheel. In the case of the Lohner-Porsche Semper Vivus it mounted two hub motors in the front wheels, each with 2.5 hp. It wasn’t much, but it allowed it to reach a maximum speed of 32 km/h.
They also assembled lead batteries to obtain ranges of up to 50 kilometers. It even gave rise to “La Toujours Contente” with a competition focus by having four hub motors, achieving all-wheel drive and a power of 14 HP. Although these electric vehicles served the purpose of reducing pollution in cities, their shortcomings were already beginning to be seen. The next thing was to make a mixed development of electricity and gasolinewhat we know today as a hybrid.
In 1901, an improved version of the Lohner-Porsche Semper Vivus was called “Mixte” and had a four cylinder gasoline engine in forward position. He also equipped a generator so that it was a mobile source of electricity for the wheel motors. 300 copies were made with this system, triumphing among the Vienna Fire Department (40 units), but also for taxis and individuals.
Although wheel hub motor technology would soon be forgotten, it was recovered in the 1970s. NASA lunar rover used in the Apollo 15, 16 and 17 missions used this type of engines.
