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Events on Wednesday 10 December 1997 2
1997The Toyota Prius goes on saleThe engine starts sharingToyota launches the Prius in Japan, pairing a petrol engine with an electric motor and a battery. Toyota loses money on every one for years. The significance is not the fuel saved but the precedent: for the first time a mass-market car treats the combustion engine as one component among several rather than the whole point of the vehicle.
1997Toyota Prius — the hybrid revolution beginsToyota launches the Prius on 10 December 1997 in Japan — the world's first mass-produced hybrid electric vehicle. The Prius combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor and nickel-metal hydride battery, achieving fuel economy of 28km/l (66mpg) in city driving. It is technically extraordinary — Toyota's engineers solve enormous challenges in battery management, regenerative braking and power split device design. The Prius is initially sold only in Japan; its global launch in 2000 changes the automotive industry.