I have a feeling that the car has not been in hybrid mode for a long while. So it’s just like a regular Civic lugging around hundreds of extra pounds of batteries. I’m sure there’s a data logging computer on board which would indicate this.
If it was in hybrid mode, then she deserves a settlement. Small claims is the way to go since regular court class action is nothing more than a lawyer employment exercise.
Bingo. And to make matters worse, the system may be trying to recharge the dead battery (which no longer holds a charge), thus wasting more gas running the electric generator.