Photo Credit: Fair Use [17 U.S.C. § 107] AI-generated 1917 Woods Motor Company Dual-Power Hybrid.
Henry Ford's Monopoly On The Automobile Industry Meant That Hybrids Wouldn't See The Light Of Day For Decades
05 Feb 2026 | Abstracted from Popular Science
Porsche introduced the first hybrid in 1900 with its Lohner-Porsche, using a gas engine to power electric hub motors. In 1916, Clinton Edgar Woods developed an early American hybrid, but Ford's dominance with the Model T and its vast dealer network prevented such designs from gaining traction. Popular Science notes Ford's control over manufacturing and distribution stalled hybrid innovation for decades.
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