I've been pretty dubious about the hydrogen-fuel cell paradigm (and pure electric is a non-starter -- does anyone even talk about that anymore) for a long time.

I think you're right: the ideal sounds like a hydrocarbon powered turbine-electric hybrid with plug-in option. Assuming you can make a turbine small enough and responsive enough for when you floor it and the batteries are about dead, but that sounds solvable. If not, diesel-hybrid.

Hydrogen isn't going to come from environmentally friendly sources anytime soon, whereas the fuel flexiblity of diesels and turbines gives you options for biodiesel or biomass based alcohols (maybe -- can you run a diesel and/or turbine on ethanol?). Biomass-derived ethanol isn't perfect but it's certainly no worse than hydrogen from reformed natural gas, let alone coal.