I suppose I react to the EV debate because I see so much garbage science about it and even more short sightedness about the whole subject.
So, to answer the standard junk science crowd:
Electrical vehicles are not a silver bullet, they are a part of the solution to dependence on foreign oil and foreign conflicts. Less oil from hostile countries, less compromise of American values, less money on military to control said countries.
They are NOT a complete environmental solution, but they ARE better overall for the environment. Powering a fleet of EV's, causes less pollution than a fleet of comparable gasoline vehicles. In addition, the power plants are usually outside the urban areas reducing the pollution to the general population. Introduce natural gas (not great, but vastly improved AND domestically produced), will reduce the pollution. Solar and wind power are a viable and growing solution. Obviously, not a complete solution, but a huge chunk can be generated from these sources. I am showing that even worse case scenario shoes EV's to be vastly better environmentally than the ICE counterparts. Also, EV's can be powered by many competing sources. Competition brings down prices.
Overall, efficiency for an EV is much greater than gas autos. It's not even close.
Range. Even the short legged Nissan Leaf (which has only an 80 mile range) is more than sufficient for most (98%) of commuting. Long distance cargo and passenger hauling will depend on Diesel for the foreseeable future.
The idea of reducing oil consumption by 20% may not seem like much, but consider this: the difference between an oil glut and an oil crisis is less than a 3% change in production.
Finally, the established auto makers don't like EV's. Why?
Auto manufacturers make around 50-75% of their profits with spare parts and servicing. They NEED your car to break to maintain their business model. They have made changing the oil impossible for the normal person and then try to charge up to $120 for the service.
To expand further on this: A normal 4 cylinder gasoline engine has hundreds of moving parts. An electric motor has ONE. Fewer moving parts, fewer parts breaking and less profit. No company will make an easily serviceable car, let alone an electrical car, because they will NEVER accept a 50-75% cut in profit. EVER! They will make a crappy semi-electrical vehicle and let it fail, then say: "see? the public never wanted en EV in the first place"
It comes down to the issue of control, not perfection.
Electrical vehicles reduces the control of Auto makers by giving a REAL choice for transportation, reduces the control of the dealer by eliminating them, reduces the control of oil empires by reducing demand thus reducing military activity and spending on sandboxes filled with people who hate us.
Does the argument sound familiar?
Elio Motors reduces the control of Auto makers by giving a REAL choice for transportation, reduces the control of the dealer by eliminating them, reduces the control of oil empires by reducing demand thus reducing military activity and spending on sandboxes filled with people who hate us.
Or, to put it in a way that even the most devout Fox News disciple can understand:
"It gives you back your freedom."