If, however, the HCH ran the motor at an efficient rpm range during the creep, and sent the excess power to the battery, it wouldn't be so bad. Conversion losses are less than 10%. I don't know if this is the case; heck, I don't even know if the Prius works this way .. I *thought* it did, but an engineer fellow named J on the 2G-Prius group says otherwise.