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Hello Mike - 

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RJT>> Another thing that came out in that article was that if
RJT>> we wanted to switch to electric vehicles, we'd have to
RJT>> *double* the capacity of the grid in this country,
RJT>> something that wouldn't happen overnight. 

MR> I'm guessing that actually the fuel cell idea is probably
MR> going to catch on. The reason being that a fuel cell
MR> combined with a "pre-reactor", i.e. using regular gasoline,
MR> means the existing infrastructure doesn't have to be
MR> converted as the electric vehicles come off the showroom
MR> floors. The next step to change the infrastructure can then
MR> proceed more gradually with some overlap as it did from
MR> horse and buggy to automobile. The fuel cell is thus a key
MR> element in any likely future. Change the "pre-reactor" to
MR> use another fuel besides gasoline and the "car" will still
MR> work the same as before. With this scenario the electrical
MR> grid doesn't require a drastic rapid upgrading. 

Your mapping of how to ease into this is sound and people may
accept the 'fuel cell' concept but the fuel cell was never
required. 

In the late 60's the magazine "Good Earth News" ran a series of
articles about building a hybrid using an old VW bug, electric
drive, and a small snowblower sized gasoline engine as a
'backup generator, recharger' to extend the range out to 180
miles. As did the FIATs and other small cars that continue to
run their electric cooling fans even when turned off in parking
lots these hybrids would start the backup gas generator to
recharge batteries while you where away from the car. 

They supplied detailed blueprints, hard to find parts, etc. and
in the '60s the VW bugs were throwaway cars you could often get
for free. ;-) 

Gas mileage was 80mph or more? 

The big problem, in the North, was the lack of heat to heat the
interior and defrost the windows in the winter. Working
defrosters are a legal requirement in the North. 

GM and Ford have been working on similar hybrids and I _think_
GM is putting them on the road in small numbers now. 

>
>        ,                          ,
>      o/      Charles.Angelich      \o       ,
>       __o/
>     / >          USA, MI           < \   __\__
 

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