[MetroMPG]

OK, but nothing inherently damaging about running dry. Only if the driver continues blithely pushing onward under battery power alone.

It's surprising the standard programming in place that normally protects the NIMH battery by managing its state of charge "window" doesn't continue to protect it in a case where there's no gasoline.

So there's nothing to prevent it being fully drained if you keep driving with no fuel on board? (Doesn't it operate with something like a 40 or 60% lower limit on SOC in normal operation?)