One thing that may work well would be a small diesel generator
charging Odessy TPPL (thin plate pure lead) batteries. The acceptance
rate of these is 600%. Re-gen electric motor. But still, the Westy, as
much as I love mine, is still too heavy to make this worthwhile. If
you built a Westy out of carbon fiber, then you'd have something.
I stopped at Batteries Plus in Nogales, AZ to ask about the Odessy
TPPL batteries. He told me that they were too expensive for him to
stock. Even one for display! So, if you wanted to go this way, prepare
to spend the big bucks or get a sponsor.

Jim C
71 Van
86 Westy "Vanilla"
http://mxsailor.blogspot.com

On Nov 13, 2008, at 7:23 AM, Chris S wrote:

> I think the thing missing is a statement that cars full of 20 lead
> acid batteries which last at best two years under full use are not the
> answer.  Neither is moving the energy requirements to power millions
> of cars to our fragile electric grid.  Not yet, anyway.

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