Originally Posted by RexB
The motor-type is a good question, had to refresh my memory after flunking EE thirty years ago... a Brushless DC has no startup torque, AC via an inverter is needed for the big starting push. Here's an article mostly on point
http://www.teslamotors.com/blog4/?p=45
Well that explains it. It says brushless DC needs an inverter to start and have permanent magnets, so it makes since to just use the lighter (no magnets=lighter I'm guessing) AC motor.
The link you posted did say that most of the earlier electric hybrids did use brushless DC, but now they use induction AC motors. Interesting.