Thanks for the comments. I would have no intention to run on gas only unless something went wrong with the hybrid system on a trip. In Canada the batteries are only guaranteed for 80,000 miles -- a figure many drivers could easily reach in four or five years. It's nice that people are predicting much longer useful life but it won't help if they prove to be wrong. If Honda were really confident it would be covering the batteries for the mileage that most people actually drive in eight years. However, if the HAH could be driven without properly functioning high voltage batteries, owners would at least have an option when faced with very expensive repairs.