There is absolutely no need for this! “Over-Unity” Drive Units are the SANE! way forward. One such device nearly a decade old (groan! we despair of the intransigency of engineers! Less charitable folk call it ‘blind stupidity’) has recently been presented on YouTube, by a Serbian Inventor of very high standing:- “Veljko Milković – Cart with a pendulum – Vehicles with internal and inertial drive”

The model illustrated in the video is just a single inclined pendulum demonstration of principle. 24 pendulum stacked disc variations are currently under investigation. The drive impulse is a result of ‘centripetal acceleration’ but essentially the power comes from ‘Gravity’ (Hunt Aviation’s Gravity Powered Flight is another variety) The purpose of having as many as 24 pendulums, is so as to even out the thrust, which with a single pendulum is quite jerky. also it allows for counter-oscillation, which is more balanced. These ‘inclined’ disc pendulums need not just oscilate, they may if desired rotate over the full 360 degrees.

Of crucial importance, is that very little electrical power is required to ensure the pendulums ‘make the extra inch over the top” so to speak. After that gravity takes you to your destination. These stacked disks are cup-n-cone magnetically suspended at their circumference, eliminating bearing friction. They are driven by efficient three-phase segment motors. with a very short pulse for each oscilation. Regenerative charging is also contemplated. Braking also charges the battery. The vehicles are not expected to achieve any great velocity, but who cares, NO FUEL.

‘Gravity’ is NOT nothing, so please don’t quote “ex nihilo nihil fit” (L) From out of nothing, nothing comes. “Vide et crede” instead! (see & believe)

Please note that the broad class of “lithium ion batteries” includes several different chemistries. It is those batteries with cobalt–the ones commonly used in mobile phones & laptops–that are most susceptible to thermal runaway, a la the flaming-laptop videos.

Other chemistries, including manganese and iron-phosphate, do not share this problem. The crucial question: If a cell suffers an internal short, is there enough oxygen bound into the chemistry to allow it to self-oxidize (i.e. burn) without external air to feed it?

It appears that Toyota, with its long-term battery partner Panasonic, initially bet on the wrong Li-ion chemistry, one that included cobalt. GM, on the other hand, is pursuing two different chemistries for its Volt batteries via development contracts with LG Chem and A123 Systems.

See the longer article on Li-ion batteries for automotive use in the link connected to my name for more detail.

Also good point about the optimum-operation engines. That’s basically what most diesel locomotives are: mobile power electric power plants where the electricity just powers electric motors on the wheels. And I think that’s what many of the hybrid city buses use too, but I’m not sure.