I don't see how anything with tires contacting asphalt or concrete can "glide" and not lose speed without the battery boost.

The concept of gliding _does_ including losing speed. Pulse & Glide involves bringing the speed up to 40 miles per hour then letting it glide and slow down to around 30mph. Then you repeat the process.

For anyone else who missed the article about Pulse and Glide, here it is again:

http://hybridcars.about.com/od/owner...seandglide.htm