[HerrBlucher]

Duh. Thinking people have known this for a long time. Cradle to grave, electric cars are NOT more environmentally friendly than internal combustion cars.

[I want the USA back]

There is no free ride. The energy to push a car must come from somewhere. In an electric car, it comes from the batteries. The batteries get their energy from electricity. The electricity gets its energy from a generating station, which gets its energy from coal/oil or some other fossil fuel.
Every conversion of energy involves a loss of energy, in the form of heat.
This is obvious to someone who last took physics in high school.

Making the batteries involves an energy cost. Disposing of them when they fail (inevitable) involves a cost.

[Sherman Logan]

Compounds such as lithium, copper, and nickel

These are, of course, elements not compounds.

[I want the USA back]

It’s not about efficiency, saving fuel, cleaning the air or saving the planet. It’s about feeling morally superior while driving around in an electric vehicle.

[Pontiac]

Studies from the National Academies point to better land-use planning to reduce suburban sprawl and, most important, fuel taxes to reduce petroleum dependence. Following that prescription would solve many problems that a proliferation of electric cars could not begin to address—including automotive injuries, deaths, and the frustrations of being stuck in traffic.

Even when they are telling you that the Electric Car’s greenness is mythical they can’t help but tell you that some other nanny state restrictions on freedom will make everything all better.

[editor-surveyor]

Electric cars make no sense at all, unless you’re obsenely wealthy, and have numerous vehicles to play with.

An electric car will cost you your life in a real emergency.

[preacher]

[TangoLimaSierra]

[PATRIOT1876]

Coal powered cars since they plug in.

Therefore Obama’s War on Coal is also a war on electric cars.

[Vince Ferrer]

I suspect that if we had a really comprehensive study, like some of these are attempting, we may find that the most environmentally efficient car would be something like this: a 1925 Doble Series E Steam Car.