That's 16% not counting losses in battery charge/discharge cycle. Granted electric motors have many advantages and are more efficient than the internal combustion engines they would replace. But what you see is the product of a previous generation of social engineering by the auto industry to suppress the electric vehicle and promote the internal combustion engine. Social engineering now or then is wrong, let the consumer decide and the free market provide what they want based on the prevailing science and the economy.
...electricity costs about half of what gasoline costs on a per-mile basis.
As the price of petroleum and gasoline decline, the costs per mile favour gasoline for a while longer. As the efficiency of the ICE is maxed, then they will have to turn to other technology, perhaps unforseen today. Let us watch and see how the newest version of the electric car is accepted by consumers and whether we have reached a turning point in personal transportation.
...the “social engineering” issue seems to be the biggest holdup...
Not to the sheeple. They always find it easier to accept rather than question the science and motives (political, economic, world, etc.) behind the issues that are presented in our society today. They let the government kick the can down the road and put off rather than resolve critical issues that need immediate attention today in favour of social issues. They worry about issues that have not yet developed or may never in the future. All the social engineering has failed to meet their expectations. I don't think an electric car matters one way or another to them.
I think it is silly how some conservatives (not you, just in general) will gripe about a couple billion but are not bothered by spending our blood and a trillion of our treasure.
When it comes to down to it, it is always about money and how it is spent. If money is unlimited, then why worry about money - in the socialists liberal mindset there will always be enough to go round. Many consider our blood and treasure to be unlimited. But in the real world and the mindset of the capitalist conservative, money is limited by our economy and our ability to produce the goods and services we desire as a society of consumers. It is important to us that we spend our money wisely and not waste our blood and treasure. Yes, we are bothered...
I have spent a number of years researching alternate solutions to the energy crisis and what as an individual I can do to maintain my energy costs and independence from more government. I have found solar, wind, and other sources of energy came at a cost at which I was not willing to pay. The return on my investment was too little or long term to warrant changing to my lifestyle to adopt the newer technologies. When electric cars become more practical and cost effective for me to dump the gas guzzlers, I'll be the first in line.
Motors do not replace engines. Motors are not a power source while engines are.
Granted electric motors have many advantages and are more efficient than the internal combustion engines they would replace …
We're already there! If you compare the Chevy Volt to the similarly sized Chevy Cruze, electricity costs about 3¢ per mile on average whereas gasoline costs 7¢ per mile with the current national average gas price of $2.21/gal. At $3.00/gal it is 9¢ per mile for gas.
Get a Volt, make no compromises, and bankrupt the jihadis!