Like you said, there's much to work out. But we should welcome this new technology. It's funny how quickly so many people take easy pot-shots at it.
It takes baby steps to get where we'd like to be. I'm sitting here typing on a small Macbook with more computing power than acres of mainframes from 50 years ago.
Unlike the technology of computers, the physics of propelling a vehicle haven't changed in last 50 years.
The power needed to propel one MD-80 with 110 passengers on board is 60 Megawatts, enough to completely power a town of 50,000 people.
A electric car has similar eye popping electricity requirement, when compared to your Lights, TV and even your A/C in the summer.
and the battery in that Macbook will die within 6 hours of use and here we have the real connection between the two technologies...
This technology (electric cars / "plug-ins" ) is hardly new..... they've been working on this since cars were first invented and we're still stuck with this battery problem......
When they manage a REAL breakthrough in that area, the lid will be off but until then, it's a niche market at best.
Apples and oranges. The amount of energy required to move your bodyweight from point A to point B is something that can't be improved by technology.
I'm a big fan of new technology, but I'm also educated enough to discern between BS and reality. Golf carts/electric wheel chairs are good applications for rechargeable electric transport. They provide good utility transport over a short range. The cost to go with a hybrid e.g. Prius or Ford Escape increases the cost of the vehicle far beyond the gasoline savings available to the owner. It is "feel good" technology that accomplishes little.