[The Great RJ]

Cold weather is the nemesis of any electric vehicle. Even my wife's gas-electric hybrid Ford Escape has a significant drop in mileage when the temperature drops. During a recent cold snap where temperatures were in the teens and single digits her mileage went from the usual 34 mpg to an abysmal 20 mpg. At least with a gas-electric hybrid she didn't have to forgo using the heater. I would think these pure electric vehicles would be a major safety hazard if during adverse weather you not only had to shut off the heater but the defroster, wipers and headlights to have any hope of getting to your destination. Imagine a fill up at your local gas station taking a good hour even if the cost of the recharge is “free” courtesy of the US taxpayers. These rechargeable electric cars are a total joke and unless there is some miracle breakthrough in battery technology that allows for a 500 mile range, a 5-10 minute recharge and improved performance in cold weather the public would have to be forced to buy them by government fiat.

[Gaffer]

It does not bode well for the electric, nor the electri-gas hybrid vehicles when Mr. Prius, Totoya’s major impetus behind that best seller recently said the technology is not viable; that it will never compete with the capabilities of a gas-powered vehicle, and that some other technology like fuel cell powered or hyrdogen powered (hydrogen stored in metal hydride pellets).