[Charles Martel]

Another feature designed to cut running costs is the brake regenerative system – similar to that in the Prius – which recovers energy from braking to recharge the battery and help power the electrical systems. To what extent this is a genuinely eco-friendly feature and how much a conscience salver is impossible to tell when you’re driving.

How odd. What, they don't have an engine-driven alternator on this model?

[GourmetDan]

"How odd. What, they don't have an engine-driven alternator on this model?"

I would say that they do.

But since alternators generate electricity only when needed, any power that you recover from regenerative braking would reduce the amount of time the alternator needs to use engine power for charging the electrical system.