The first-generation hybrids, namely the Prius and Insight, were known for efficiency ber alles, not ass-blistering supercar-level performance. So what's a '99 Prius owner to do? Beef up the battery packs for more juice off the line? Complicated. Turbocharge it? What if the motor shuts down right when the turbo needs cooling oil circulation the most? How about a crank-driven supercharger? It brings some issues of its own, especially regarding specific boost levels, given the motor's Atkinson-cycle cylinder head design. Nevertheless, there's a tinkerer in by the name of Julian Edgar who's hashin' out the problem. Go check out what he's found.
Technokill: Building a Blown Hybrid, Part 1 [Autospeed via Sports Car Market]
Related:
Frankfurt Announcement: Porsche to Develop Hybrid Cayenne by End of Decade [Internal]