Like everything in life, it’s about trade offs. Am I willing to trade the amount I currently spend on gasoline for the stigma of driving what really amounts to a really fast golf-cart? (Yes, I think there most definitely is a stigma involved with driving an electric vehicle, as demonstrated by the opinion of several of my female friends that, were I to buy an environmentally-friendly vehicle, I’d “never get another date”).
Can the auto companies develop a battery-powered vehicle that sufficiently overcomes the most common problems and negative perceptions? Probably eventually, but, as of right now, I think most people would still rather pay $3 a gallon than deal with the electric car while the companies iron out the kinks. I think glial is right—I see at least 20 more years until they can truly compete with internal combustion. Perhaps sooner if the price of gas keeps going up.
I’m excited about the prospect of alternative energy. That’s why I like seeing the rising gas prices (much as it pains me at the pump). New energy won’t become economically viable until fossil fuels become economically unviable.