Henry Ford? Model Ts became cheap transport and gas engines got better, electrics batteries couldn"t match the performance and range. Porsche had "Mixte" design in early 30s- gas engine driving electric generator and electric motors in wheel hubs and axles, some regenerative braking experiments also.Current GM hybred buses use a relatively small battery pack, regenerative drive and a relatively clean diesel engine that partially recharges battery pack. Mileage increase 20% or so, clean burning, low pollution-- and only another $20,000 increased cost with the incentives($35,000 to $50,000 extra without incentive/subsidies). The straight battery powerd NEV(Neighborhood Electric Vehicle) may be handy for some people that can live with a 50 mile range and overnight charge, 25 mph top speed- but for long distance a small diesel engine Smart car with manual transmission getting 75mpg makes more sense. Intersting thing -that Smart car version so popular in Europe is not allowed to be sold in US. Niether is VW diesel hybred that is fair seller in europe. As for coal burning power plants that make the electricity and have losses- try burning the coal with in between step of converting the coal to lite oil, like the Fischer-trosch method used by Germany in WW2 and S. Africa today. A experimental conversion plant is being built or is now online in N Dakota on a military reservation(no treehuggers or extra building permit hassle) and is supposed to make or be making some very good jet fuel for military use, a little of the other oil and wax production possible available for civilian sale. Franc uses the power from a nuclear plant to run their experimental coal to fuel conversion plant in Alsace(?) region, another one mentioned but can"t remember where- I think it was supposed to be very close to a large munincipal area. Use nuke power to convert coal to liquid fuel that can go into existing infrastructure instead of charging short range battery power car. Lead-acid batteries are known , useful devices with known shortcomings but relatively cheap. combined with a diesel engine and they can help- like the GM munincipal buses that are slightly cheaper and cleaner than previous models over extended life but have a initial higher cost. Fuel cells like Ford and Fiat are working on have the range and power- but use of LP gas or preferred Hydrogen means a infrastructure building problem. Current projetions are for economical stationary units like the large diesel emercency generators in places with sewer gas or natural gas supplies. LP/CNG fuel vehicles another option- Madison,Wi has a cab company that has been running propane for years- the cabs don"t get too far away from their refueling tanks so works good. India using sewer gas and CNG in some polluted cities-Mumbai/Bombay was example- for trikes, trucks and busses, another possible alternative to straight electrics. Arizona has a couple places allowing golf carts around town- electric cart with a solar panel roof was example of short hop vehicle getting once a month extra charge. Try that in Wisconsin winter and it"ll be a daily recharge and defrost solar panels on roof. Batteries need some more work. RN.
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Today's Featured Article - A Cautionary Tale - by Ian Minshull. In the early 1950s my father bought an Allis Chalmers B and I used it for all the row crop work with the mangolds and potatoes, rolling and the haymaking on our farm. The farm and the Allis were sold and I have spent a lifetime working on farms throughout the country. I promised myself that one day I would own an Allis. That time event
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