Today we’re examining two important but oft-overlooked pieces of Volkswagen history, both of which pertain to the Volkswagen brand’s “hybrid heritage”. By the end of this blog, you’ll want to file this info under “I” for “interesting”, “intriguing”, and “impressive”, such is the impact that the Volkswagen Group has had on the evolution of hybrid vehicles.
For starters, did you know that Ferdinand Porsche, the automotive genius behind various Porsche models and the Volkswagen Beetle, gained national notoriety in 1900 when he developed the first hybrid car? It was called the Lohner-Porsche, and it was a revolutionary car that influenced later generations of hybrid vehicles. Porsche’s hybrid car was unique in many ways, not least of which was the inclusion of in-wheel electric motors whose batteries were recharged by an on-board gas engine.
Alas, though Heritage Volkswagen Parkville is a great place to find a Volkswagen for sale near Towson, MD, you won’t find the paradigmatic Lohner-Porsche amongst our inventory. That’s ok, though: we have more than enough well-rated cars, i.e. a Volkswagen Passat, to satisfy customers from Baltimore to Essex.
Another Volkswagen vehicle you won’t find at our Volkswagen dealership in Owings Mills, MD is the super-rare Volkswagen Elektro-Bus. It’s not that we wouldn’t love to put this gem on display in our showroom – it’s just that only 70 of them were produced from 1972 - 1976, and they only in Germany. The all-electric Volkswagen Elecktro-Bus was built in response to the global oil crisis in the early 70s - and though its top speed was only 43MPH and its total range a scant 25 miles, it’s no stretch to say that this innovative bus laid an early foundation for the soon-to-come Volkswagen I.D. BUZZ concept!