Calling all EV experts...or just knowledgeables in general

[Brian D.]

Why don't EV (er, electric vehicles) have an alternator? Couldn't one be used to, uh, recharge the batteries....so the car could actually stand a chance at getting a decent range? Sorry to sound arrogant, but I haven't been able to find the answer through my buddy, Google. Contrary to popular belief, he doesn't hold the answer to everything.

**I have a co-worker who wants to swap gasoline to electric. He's been checking out different websites, and vehicles. He (nor I) can understand why an alternator(read: recharge device) cannot be incorporated into the function of the engine to keep the battery charged up. I am 100% certain there is an explanation for this. I just haven't found out what it is yet. Can one of you help?