self contained electric Model T Ford?

A friends friend recently came over and when he saw my old Essex rods he mistook them for Model T's

Then he told me a story about Henery Ford making the Model T motors with a magneto that could power the car for free.

He aparently didn't install the magnets into the bell housing.

This was aparently done kind of as an insurance program against the big oil companies, who were trying to force Ford out of business.

I did a quick Google search for info on this mater, and I did find 1 site.
http://www.keelynet.com/energy/ford.htm

I haven't looked for more, but I do find it intresting.

What do you all think?