Timbo,

I can only point you to the norwegian electric car "Think": http://www.think.no/
Is this the one you are thinking about?

The city model had a 85km range, and cruised in 80km/h (our speed limit). All electric. Cost, about 120.000NKr, or US$18.000,-
Ford bought the company, but pulled out again after a while. They tried to market them in the US, but was not succesful. I dont think they build anything just now, but are looking for capital.


Experimental cars have driven across australia just on solar power. Clouds, dust and general lack of sunlight are the major problems.
Ethanol (yes, the stuff you can drink) can power cars easily, as can lots of biological oils. Oil from boiled fish livers was used in car during WW2.. Most modern cars can run on ethanol with small modifications. Just need the infrastructure to support gas stations and farming for potatoes and sugar. As most western countries are shutting down their farming capacity, this could save a lot of jobs. Wonder what the price pr. mile will be on pure alcohol. I know they use ethanol as a 50/50 substitute in Sweden for their cars, and the ethanol is cheaper than gas.. (about US$2 pr liter I think, same as here)


While going trough technical checkout/qualifications on the norwegian main battle tank (Leopard) we was tought that in need we could run the engine on everything from the aforementioned boiled fish liver to soya oil. Engine was a 70's Mercedes marine diesel. It would not be as efficient/powerful, make lots of soot and stink. But it would propel the tank. Never had to try it, fortunately.