"One reason carmakers like to focus on horsepower is that it's damn hard to develop an algorithm that manages a hybrid power train. No company has been able to come up with a formula that beats Toyota's. Ford developed its own algorithm only to realize it was very similar to the Toyota approach; in order to avoid a lawsuit, it ended up purchasing a license rather than pursuing a patent. Mercedes was stunned to discover that its vaunted F 500 Mind concept car, a diesel-electric hybrid, actually got worse mileage on the highway than a gas-only version. Nissan just threw up its arms and licensed nearly all of Toyota's hybrid technology."
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