I'm not sure how to word this... and I'm trying to learn. Please give me a little buffer here...

Doesn't the hybrid drive (and CVT) allow the ECU to put the engine in more efficient RPM ranges and use the excess RPM/power to drive the generator for later EV assisted motion? If you're able to stay at an RPM where the engine is (say) 30% efficient and recapture that 5% of efficiency as electricity for future use, are you not being more efficient across the entire system when compared to an ICE only model which we've said was 25% efficient? Sure, once the 5% reclaimed efficiency is converted to electricy/battery and back momentum via the electric motor, you don't get the full 5% back but you are still going to get efficiency that's better than the original 25%.

I'm not saying you get something for nothing but you're just getting more by using the ICE while it's in a more efficient range.

I could be completely off base here so please be gentle.