Electric motors are cool. They can vary in size and shape to compliment any application. Contemporary electric and hybrid cars have motors placed between the petrol-powered engine and the transmission. Others attach motors to the drive shaft or integrate them into a rear trans-axle assembly.

Question - why not integrate electric motors into the wheels?

Answer - Ferdinand Porsche did just that . . . in 1899.

That's right, in 1899 Ferdinand Porsche was working as an engineer at the Lohner Luxury Coach Works in Vienna. The owner, Jacob Lohner wanted Porsche to develop a smooth, quiet electric power car for his wealthy customers.

Using hub-mounted electric motors plus an on-board gas engine to recharge the batteries, Porsche was able to elimate the requirement for a gearbox, drive shafts or chains , or even a clutch!

None of these original Lohner-Porsche hybrid electric cars exhist today. To comemorate Ferdinand's engineering achievement, Porsche AG commissioned a replica of the 1901 Two-Rotor hybrid car to be the centerpiece of the Porsche display at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.