The Toyota Prius was released worldwide in 2001.
However, you are mistaken on how a Prius and all other Hybrids work.
The Prius is propelled by a gasoline engine. It uses an electric motor to assist the gasoline motor. The car is never propelled by the electric motor only.
The battery pack in the Prius, and in other hybrids, is charged while the vehicle is decelerating.
The technology for what you describe did not exist 10 years ago.
The Chevrolet Volt is closer to what you describe. The Volt is classified as a Plug-in Hybrid. This vehicle was just recently made available to the public. The Volt has no direct connection to the gasoline engine. It is powered by electric motors and a battery pack. The batteries are charged by connecting the car to an electrical outlet. You can drive the car for about 50 miles on battery power only. When the batteries lose their charge a small gasoline engine starts that turns a generator to provide power to the electric motors.
The Nissan Leaf is nothing new. Yawn. All electric cars have been around since about 1906.
I have one question about plug-in hybrids and all electric cars. Is the electricity from the power grid, much of it coming from coal fired power plants, really any cleaner than gasoline?
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