Excerpts from the article which is on Car Talk web site: link to full article here

The prototype is a very clean two-owner 1963 Beetle. Neatly slotted in the engine compartment and taking over from the gas tank are a bank of AGM lead-acid batteries, which couple to a brush-less AC induction electric motor. A regenerative braking system captures energy that would otherwise be lost as waste heat.

The Beetle weighs 1,600 pounds and the batteries add another 300, so it’s still a very light platform for an electric car. The second car will get an upgrade to vastly more efficient lithium-ion batteries—for 100 miles of range instead of 40 in the prototype. The basic conversion is $9,975 plus the donor car, but batteries are extra (lead-acid packs are $1,975; lithium-ion adds $8,575).

BB adds: This sort of conversion could be done in Thailand, by folks with more money to spend - and hopefully prices would come down over time. Are any Thai inventors working to develop more efficient/ cheaper batteries? Nah, not likely.

Hi

Do you know how long time batteries last in Thailand, not long. 100 Miles, and then walk home, 100 miles is not much in Thailand, nope, i don’t believe in this

What is the environmental cost of disposing of lead batteries?

Good points mentioned above. The efficiency / longevity of batteries is something that's still being developed month by month. Likely that costs will come down over time. The technology has room for improvement. But like many worthwhile technologies, it goes through phases, from inception to mass use: starts out clunky and expensive, and could well wind up efficient and affordable.

not the only electric Beetle

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/news/default.asp?storyId=21921