Toyota has sold over one million hybrids in the United States and more than two million around the world. Under a court order, the automaker is required to pay Russian-American, Alex Severinsky, for every single hybrid vehicle it sells. In 1994, Severinsky patented an invention he called Hyperdrive, which allows hybrid vehicles to operate smoothly while switching between gas and electric power. Toyota uses a system similar to Hyperdrive in its hybrid vehicles, even though they claim this technology is independent of Severinsky’s research. Regardless, the man is still getting paid!