New Storage Devices on the Move

I am all for these technologies, but a 3 to 5 year payback if you drive 17,680 miles a year is a large horse pill to swallow.

Most people drive closer to 12,000 miles a year which makes the payback closer to 5 to 7 years and most people don't even keep their cars that long. So, in 5 to 7 years the current technology will be pretty well obsolete and resale value of the vehicle will probably suffer if the new "hybrid" vehicle prices start to reach parity with current gasoline powered cars.

I'll cheer them on, but I am not compelled to swap my current ride yet.

Extreme Hybrid technology with Lithium- Ion batteries and ultra capacitors, if can be commercially developed to provide the type of petrol consumption average they claim, then it will be a real break through in energy conservation in this crude oil starved universe. When the designers have produced the prototype and exhibited there should not be any hesitation for auto industry to back this technology development. It will be great help for developing nations if this technology development becomes commercial reality