Most people would be surprised to learn that the inventor of the advanced hybrid technology used in the Toyota Prius and other vehicles is an American. After all, American car companies have been slow to adopt hybrid technologies. In fact, he is an engineer and entrepreneur who emigrated to the U.S. from the Soviet Union and launched his inventions at the University of Maryland's A. James Clark School of Engineering... Media-Newswire.com - Press Release Distribution - PR Agency
Sooo, because Mr. Severinsky did this work in the 1990's he's hailed as the hyrid engine inventor? Victor Wolk must be rolling over in his grave. Mr. Severinsky may very well be deserving of praise, but for inventing the hybrid engine? He's 20 years late. Godfather of the Hybrid Victor Wouk and The Great Hybrid Car Cover-up of 1974 | Hybrid Cars Mr. Severinsky must have made SOME kind of hybrid engine, but it wasn't the first by a long shot. Even Wolk's actual working model wasn't the 1st concept. That honor goes to GM of all entities, a whopping quarter century earlier than Mr. Severinsky did what ever he did:
We have to go back much further: Take a look at the 1917 Woods Dual Power. Woods Dual Power - Hybrid Car of 1917 ~ Hybrid Car Review
They qualify it by "the inventor of the advanced hybrid technology". The earlier hybrid systems apparently weren't "advanced".
Advanced or not, I think most Prius owners here probably have never even heard of this guy who won a patent suit against Toyota regarding the HSD that we're using everyday.
Interesting indeed. Wonder what process UM typically goes through to consider and award their honorees.
Hi All, The hybrid concept is as old as Ferdinand Porshe (older?). But the basic concept that the Prius hybrid transmission uses was invented by TRW engineers 2 decades before Mr. Severinsky. Who seems to be a patent black-mailer. Check out this article: Feature Article - Present at the Creation - 11/06
Actually he didn't win the patent suit. On appeal, Toyota won. Aparently his idea (what ever is is/wasj) aint as original as he thought it was. Sho-bud, thanks for the link to the super early hybrid designers. Who knew! Very interesting how far the hybrid idea actually goes back.
