In my youth I too was fascinated by the concept.After I studied thermodynamics, not so much.
If someday battery tech gets good enough and cheap and durable enough, electric vehicles can make sense provided that the application doesn’t require recharging when the user can’t afford the time to wait for it.
I don’t see electric working on long-haul routes. Hybrid vehicles seem a lot more practical. Not practical enough, mind, if they have to be subsidized . . .
Did you study Doble’s work with steam generators? He was striving towards higher thermal efficiency and longevity.