Toyota: Electric cars, gasoline engine, 40mpg

Question
Dear Paul,
I don't understand why a hybrid gas/electric car gets better milage than a normal gas powered car. The gas engine runs to drive a generator which powers electric motors which in turn drive the wheels. So how is that more efficient than having a gasoline engine which drives the wheels directly? Less losses due to friction surely? Also when I was in England I drove a small 4 cylinder car (about the size of a Prius) and got over 40mpg - and that was 30 years ago! So where is the big advance/saving with this new technology?
Can you explain? Thanks Ray

Answer
I JUST WENT TO SCHOOL ON THIS A FEW WEEKS AGO. I UNDERSTAND  WHERE U ARE COMING FROM. I'LL MAKE IT SIMPLE AS I CAN. THE PRIUS GETS 61/51 MPG. IF U NOTICED 61 IS IN THE CITY. THE WAY IT WORKS IS THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE SENSES IT DOES NOT NEED ALOT OF POWER IT STAYS ON ELECTRIC(BATTERY) MODE. BASICALLY ANYTHING UNDER 50 MPH WILL KEEP IT AT BATTERY MODE.YOU CAN OVERRIDE THAT BY FULL THROTTLE AND IT WILL USE BOTH THE ENGINE AND THE ELECTRIC MOTOR. BUT HERE IS THE SECRET SHHHHHHHH. AS THE VEHICLE ROLLS DOWN THE HIGHWAY IT'S CHARGING THE BATTERY(s) VIA ROLLING GENERATORS AT THE WHEELS. SO THE ENGINE IS REALLY NEVER RUNNING UNLESS IT SENSES A LOAD THAT IS NOT NORMAL. ALSO THE VEHICLE LEARNS AND ADJUSTS TO EVERY LOAD RATING IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE THE USE OF THE GAS ENGINE. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS 13 COMPUTERS IN HER. THE VEHICLE IS A WORK OF ART. PAUL P.