Generic battery box?

[freebeard]

I'm contemplating a project of this Summer, to get a $60 handheld welder and maybe $100 worth of steel and build a beam extender for my Baja Bug. ...to rat it out.

It seems I could get triple duty if the beam extender incorporated a battery box and reverse alligator hood mechanism. That, with an aluminum buggy axle and a fabricated front valance (two Beetle door skins) would get me this:



The bounding box for any battery holder would be 32" wide, 8" tall and 20" deep -- or less.
Considering It wouldn't be populated until the Beetle engine is converted to mild hybrid, the battery choice should be future-proofed.

I'd like to not die in a fire, so some sort of smokeless battery would be considered. Likely whatever is first to market as a secondary sale, reconditioned, etc. What form are these solid state batteries taking? Cell, prism, pouch?

I'm also interested in any thoughts on adapting a GM eAssist altermotor to a Type III engine (it separates the belt driven generator from the cooling solution).

[Piotrsko]

Not sure how the energy level of a standard battery pack will cease life in this installation. Immolation, perhaps, but typical skin resistance is high enough until you get into the hundred volt range to not generate large currents except flow paths across the heart. Nothing a pair of driving gloves wouldn't solve or rubber coated work gloves... or even standard high voltage work practices. Fwiw, in the 13 years i have had the 388 volt VOLT pack, never been zapped or tingled. Even doing stuff common practice warns against.

Double crank pulley?