Hydraulic Hybrids

The biggest drawback to electric hybrids or even plain electric cars is the batteries. They're heavy, cost a lot, use toxic stuff, wear out, and need to be disposed of properly. A cheaper, less complex, less toxic, more efficient, and less pollutive solution is the hydraulic hybrid. Here's a neat video showing how they work. UPS has been working with the EPA to innovate and build prototypes and working units. One source states a 60–70% increase in fuel economy. Put that in your Prius and fuck it.

One caveat is that things like headlights, big ass stereos, and climate systems will quickly drain the existing battery when the engine shuts off (and AC would stop). So why not add a 2nd tiny engine that would power an alternator and store the energy in the battery, which would be shared with the main hydraulic–pumping engine? It could also stop when the battery is not being drained quickly.