I am a diesel mechanic and I pay very close attention to our energy "crisis" as well as do a lot of research on the subject. I do not understand why the automotive manufacturers are pursuing this hybrid technology. I beleive that on average they get a fuel mileage rating around 35 or 40 mpg. They made cars almost 40 years that got as good or better fuel mileage than that. Volkswagen diesel powered cars get 45+ mpg. and they are now cleaner than gasoline engines, but for the last 5-7 years I beleive they were not aloud to import diesel cars to the United States. Why is that? There is an alterior motive to all of this and I haven't figured out what it is yet, so if anyone has a good idea please let me know. I keep hearing politics (especially the presidential candidates) talk about reasearching alternative sources of energy. I say wtf? Everyone is looking for the holy grail of energy and we already know what it is. It is Nuclear power. France is around 80% nuclear powered and it is very safe and effecient as well as cheap and powerful. We are the ones who developed the technolofy but for some reason we will not allow ourselves to use it. I don't get it.