A Japanese shipbuilding company named IHI Marine United is developing a ship that can be powered entirely by rechargeable lithium batteries. It will be able to travel 80 km while carrying 800 passengers:
Its Zero Emission Electric Propulsion Ship will use batteries that can be recharged at charging stations in ports it visits. The plug-in ship powered by lithium-ion batteries would run without a diesel engine, thus cutting its carbon dioxide or nitrogen oxide emissions to zero.
The company hopes to have a commercial vehicle available in 2015.
Link via technabob | Photo: Far East Gizmos
Go Skipweasel!
I'm with you. The technology is very interesting to me and may be worthwhile. However, don't go touting the environmental benefits without doing a real cradle-to-grave study on the whole system including energy generation.
http://stott.customer.netspace.net.au/devilcat.htm
The power to charge the batteries has to come from somewhere, and even if it's from a renewable source there's the carbon involved in making and replacing the batteries every few years. I'd love an electric car - though not the high-performance things beloved of car manufacturers, something like this...
http://www.speedace.info/solar_van.htm
only not solar powered. Windows in the back, three rows of removeable double seats. Perfect for running around town and keep the big diesel for long trips.