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Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard
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That is not what those videos say at all. They say that during the charge depletion mode that the power will always come from the electric motors. It's been explained that it will drive at 100mph under full electric power. The only time the engine runs and will have the opportunity to connect with the wheels is at higher loads and typically during higher speeds in the cases where it will be more efficient to drive the car using the propulsion of both motor and engine power.
In these cases the gasoline engine is already running, no sense in not using it in the most efficient way possible.
What is obvious is that it will always be cheaper if you will not be using the full range and are traveling at 100mph even if the electric motors are more inefficient at that speed than running the engine at the same time. Cost of electricity as a form of transportation is much cheaper. That is why the engine will not fire up until the battery reaches its buffer or mountain mode is enabled.