DEFINITION
A Hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that uses more than one power source such as a fuel-based internal propulsion engine and a battery-powered electric motor. By combining top-notch fuel efficiencies and ultra-low tailpipe emissions, hybrids are some of the cleanest and "greenest" motor vehicles around.
These vehicles use much less fuel than their counterparts and produce less emissions. Hybrid vehicles recharge their batteries by capturing kinetic energy through regenerative braking. Some hybrids use the combustion engine to generate electricity by spinning a generator to either recharge the battery or directly feed power to an electric motor that drives the vehicle. This takes place when cruising or in other situations where just light thrust is needed.
Mileage in a Hybrid vehicle is noticeably higher (from 8-10% or 2-3 mpg), compared to non-Hybrid vehicles. (1)
Broadly, a hybrid vehicle is any vehicle that uses two propulsion systems. More specifically, in electric vehicles, a hybrid either (1) operates solely on electricity, but contains an internal combustion motor that generates additional electricity (series hybrid); or it (2) contains an electric system and an internal combustion system and is capable of operating on either system (parallel hybrid).
Another way to define a hybrid vehicle is: a vehicle that is propelled by two or more sources of power, usually a battery and an internal combustion engine (ICE). The ICE can charge the battery, drive the wheels, or both. (2)

HISTORY AND TIMELINE

Developments Leading to the Hybrid Vehicle
Steam Power
1665-1680
Between 1665 and 1680, Flemish Jesuit priest and astronomer Ferdinand Verbiest created plans for a miniature four-wheel unmanned steam “car” for Chinese Emperor Khang Hsi. (3)
1769-1829
The first steam-powered motor car or rather motor carriage was made by Nicholas Cugnot. (4)
Captain Nicolas Joseph Cugnot, a French Army officer built what many consider to be the first automobile, although he designed the vehicle primarily to move artillery pieces.
The Cugnot Steam car or "Steamer" was three-wheeled and could carry four persons. It had a top speed of 2 mph (3.2 km/h) and had to stop every 20 minutes to build up a fresh head of steam.
In 1825, Sir Goldsworthy Gurney, a Cornish engineer, invented the first high pressure ´horseless´ steam carriage, although it was not a great success, due the understandable apprehension of passengers who had to ride in a compartment situated directly above the dangerous steam boiler.


The Gurney Steamer is similar to a coach. It is mounted on 6 wheels where 4 wheels sustain the vehicle weight while the 2 front wheels, the so callet "pilot" wheels, replace the horses and are used for turning the steam carriage.
Sir Gurney later refined his design to provide a separate carriage which was hauled by the engine, known as the ´Gurney Drag´.
In 1829 this steam driven carriage journeyed from London to Bath, although its maiden journey was marred by an accident just outside Reading where it collided with the Bristol Mail Coach. It was later attacked by a Luddite mob outside Melksham and had to be escorted into Bath under guard. The average speed for the round trip was 15 mph and is claimed as the first long joudiv

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