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The use of TEC's on big rig engine's muffler (custom made) was tested to output nearly 1KW of power, almost enough to power the entire truck. I'll have to look for the article, but I believe that was at a down-the-road rpm, so an average of possible temperatures on the hot side. I don't know what the cold side was at, but I would assume room temperature.
I'm talking with one of my professors to see if he can help me do a simple test on my car. Measure the average exhaust temp over a period of time, and set up a bench top TEC system that mimic's the average of what my car would experience. I doubt I could get 1KW out of it, but 0.5KW would still run the engine, leaving me with a much smaller need of an alternator.
Using a similar system on a radiator could also work.
I realize this isn't the same as using a turbo for power generation, but as the article states, the turbo runs as such high rpms and temperatures it causes premature failure.
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