US Patent 7808121 Vehicle with electricity generating, braking wind turbine

An energy efficient land vehicle includes a.) a conventional land power mechanism, with a storage battery and power consuming mechanisms directly or indirectly connected to the storage battery, for controlled delivery of electric power to the power consuming mechanisms; b.) a supplemental electric power generation system located on the conventional land vehicle, the supplemental power plant including: i.) a housing; ii.) at least one set of rotatable blades mounted within the housing; iii.) a movable shaft connected to the set of rotatable blades; iv.) a generator for generating electricity connected to the shaft; v.) a voltage regulator; and, vi.) a connection to the storage battery for providing electric power. The housing has at least an open front for air ingress and an open area downstream from the blades for air egress, and the open front has at least one gate. The gate opens only when the vehicle is decelerating or stationary and is otherwise closed during vehicle movement.