This open-topped beauty is the Wind Explorer, a German-made electric car that’s just driven across Australia. And it only used around $13 of electricity on its 18-day trip. It’s powered by two methods—a motor running on an internal battery that can be charged by the mains supply or a portable wind turbine, or, er, dragged along by kites. The turbine is a 20-foot-high telescopic bamboo mast that can be deployed in half an hour. Not particularly convenient for the daily commute, but a nice bit of thinking about how we might survive once the planet’s oil’s all been guzzled.
it would be nice if that worked. you have to take into account the resistance created by moving enough air to move the turbine. it uses too much electricity to overcome other aspects besides resistances.
for example some people think that the electric cars should put alternators on all the wheels so it can charge the car while its moving, but it doesnt work efficient enough to be worth the time/effort to do it.