The Toyota Prius and the Hybrid Era

What happened

Toyota's Prius, released worldwide around 2000, paired a petrol engine with an electric motor and battery to cut fuel use and emissions. An unexpected success, it made the hybrid car mainstream and put fuel efficiency back at the centre of the industry.

Why it matters

The Prius proved there was a mass market for cleaner cars and reopened the door — after nearly a century — to electric power in the automobile.

Sources

• U.S. Department of Energy. The History of the Electric Car · Reputable source