Any engineer will understand that a hybrid is a counter productive technology.
Sure...on paper and undergoing the Euro CO2 tests it records great figures. However
they are not true figures as the car starts the test with a 'full' battery and ends with an 'empty' one. Carry on driving, and the battery will need to be charged up, and this charge comes mainly from petrol energy.
The OP mentioned running an AC when stationary.......this is not 'free' energy, he will pay for that later.
Yes there is some wasted energy that the alternator can harvest when applying the brakes, but you also have to lug around the additional weight, and increased rotational mass which off sets this.
Also, rememeber when you first got your new mobile phone? The battery lasted ages, then 3 years later it needs more frequent charges as the battery 'degraded'!!!! Well same thing applies to a Hybrid.
Good job it is on a lease, you wouldn't want to own one 4 years down the line.
Apologies if this comes across as negative, but a spade is a spade.