HOLY SHIT! HYBRID HYDRAULICS

This is my new favorite automobile technology! It reduces fuel consumption and emissions as well as particulate and noise from braking. And no lead acid batteries! On its face it seems like a much more efficient energy transfer (not so much wasted heat) and apparently it is. 3x more for the new F150 (60mpg city). And apparently it gives better acceleration, too:

When the accelerator is released, the vehicle’s kinetic energy is used to pump hydraulic fluid from a low-pressure reservoir into a high-pressure accumulator (storage cylinder). The use of the kinetic energy in this way also places a drag on the drive-line, thus slowing the vehicle.

The hydraulic fluid compresses gas within the accumulators, creating pressure within the system.

When the accelerator is re-engaged, this fluid flows back out from the high-pressure accumulator to drive the motor, providing power to the vehicle during acceleration.

-http://www.ferret.com.au/articles/48/0c037548.asp

http://www.newtechspy.com/articles06/hydraulichybrid.html
http://blog.wired.com/cars/index.blog?entry_id=1507498
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/technology/index.htm#hydraulic