Power Line's John Hinderaker is a implacable opponent of electric cars, and today he writes calling them "the South Sea Bubble of the 21st century." Mostly I agree with him, with the following exception.
I do believe it is possible to make practical electric vehicles for around town use - going to the store and driving to work. If you can use a second car that (a) hardly ever drives more than 50-70 miles in a day, (b) always ends up back at home for several hours once a day, and (c) you have a garage in which to put a charger, an electric car can work and be practical.
It is a glorified golf cart masquerading as a car, but that sort of vehicle will work fine for many households, particularly if you have another with internal combustion power for longer trips, especially those away from home for more than 24 hours.
Why not adopt a realistic goal of replacing second cars in households with an electric? Use them for local errands and commuting and don't try to make them into interstate highway cruisers.
Because they wouldn't be designed or intended for longer distance driving or high speeds, it wouldn't be necessary to do heroic, expensive things to extend range. To encourage their purchase, designate parking for electrics up front, like handicapped parking is now and issue them differentiated license plates.
People with only one vehicle would probably own a gas powered car, as it can do it all. So many households have 2 or more cars that getting even half of those to switch one to an electric would be a big reduction in fossil fuel consumption IF we can find ways to generate enough electricity without burning carbon-based fuel.
