I just   read in our local Public Utilities Division magazine..(I usually
just chuck it out) about an electric Vanagon that some guy who lives near by
built.  1980  with fork lift motor in it and 4 big golf car batts.  He is a
retired engineer from one of the dams nearby.  It goes about 25mph so far
and runs for an hour, so far.  He says, in this article, that his motor is
WWII era and there are newer motors now with about 10 time the efficiency..
  If anyone is interested,  the Ruralite Magazine has an addy for issues.
The whole deal is about 1.5 pages long.  I bet I've seen it humming
along...He lives just eight miles away from me..
  Don Hanson

  He has around $9000 in it, including a tow bar, a back up alarm (silent
running) and totally re-working the van which he dragged in out of a barn
somewhere..