“American Father of the Prius” Killed in Plane Crash

By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews

Despite the arguments about the Prius and its ability to save money … and there have been plenty (here and here for example) … there’s no denying the Prius has changed automaking. Although the Insight was first, the Prius is still the most popular, and one needs only peer into the carpool lane in California to see tons of them.

Much of the design was done in Japan, of course, but David Hermance was a major contributor in the US, and was among the country’s top experts on gas-electric hybrid vehicles. He was piloting an experimental plane when it crashed on Saturday afternoon.

David Hermance, 59, was piloting an experimental plane when it went down Saturday afternoon about 50 yards off Los Angeles’ San Pedro area.

While much of the car’s technology was developed in Japan, Hermance was perhaps the “American father of the Prius” for his tireless work evaluating and promoting it in the U.S., longtime colleague Bill Reinert said.

“When that car came out, no one knew what it was,” said Reinert, a Toyota national manager. “Dave dedicated his life to championing this technology.” Source: MSNBC

We Say: I scoffed at hybrids at first, but the Prius, at least the second generation which I now drive, won me over. I’m sure Hermance’s work at promoting it had something to do with it.