[Christ]

I much like the idea of a switching alternator... although I believe it should be accompanied by a mechanical continuously variable pulley as well, which would be designed to keep it at its most efficient RPM, regardless of engine RPM.

Also, it should work when the engine is at idle speed, since during idle, you're burning fuel for nothing anyway. (Unless you're coasting with the engine on, but the engine still isn't DOING anything for the fuel it's consuming.)

For an electronic controller, "Idle speed" is defined as "particular idle speed while at 0 load and 0 TPS reading." (For automatic vehicles, change "0 load" to "limited braking load" due to it being in gear.)