People in the horse and buggy industry used to say the same thing too.
While I dont like the government subsidizing anything, I not going to bemoan private industry giving this a good try. If they can get these things working well, cheaply, and safely then why on Earth is anyone hear up in arms about it other than some weird idea that if Electric or Hybrid cars succeed that it would be like voting for Al Gore.
They are a boondoggle! Turbo Deisel Injection engines have been getting as good or better gas mileage as these hybrids for a decade or more with no more pollution out of the tailpipe and FAR FAR less pollution in the manufacture and eventual end life of the product!
Hybrid technology is a scam, its not more Green and its not going to ever beat deisel technology in terms of fuel efficiency or cost.