[Dan53]

I understand that given current technology we couldn't charge the batteries as we drive because any alternator powered by the batteries couldn't provide the same amount of energy back to them, that's fine. But I was suggesting that one set of batteries powers not only the motor but also, through whatever means, an alternator or series of alternators, that charges another set of batteries, and you may switch between the two sets when one gets low. When Set A gets down to maybe 80% you can switch over to Set B, which have been charging all the while, to run the motor, while Set A becomes dormant and gets charged up. True that maybe it would take too long to charge each set, meaning that Set A might become dead before Set B is fully charged, and I admittedly don't know that. Obviously it would depend on the batteries you were using as well. Batteries that charge rather quickly would be necessary. This idea seems too simple to not have been tried before, so I can assume that it must not work, but I heard that there are batteries in design that will charge in about 5 minutes, and this seems possible with them. You might say that with batteries that charge so quickly, what does it even matter if they charge themselves while driving? I guess I agree, other than that it would just raise technology to a new level if we could pull it off, whether it's totally necessary or not.

Dan