Let me chime in with some useless comments. Firstly, i love the idea of electric cars and would like to get one for myself. For various reasons i can't see that happening anytime soon, if at all during my time of active driving. Why? Here is my thinking and it is a personal thing coming from my position so not applicable for all. But let's see if some of it is valid more generally.
Tesla seems to be the most credible attempt at an all-electric car today. If the cost in US is close to 100 k$ (or whatever), the cost where i live would be astronomical. Some governments, mine included have seen it fit to tax cars out of all proportion. Thus the price here would be like double the selling price in the US. End of story right there.
--> The ex-factory cost of an electric car must be comparable to a gas car to gain any kind of general popularity.
But that is just one issue. Let's assume the prices somehow turn reasonable and there is no significant difference between a gas and electric car. It doesn't have to be a Tesla after all, and a Tesla would not be everybody's cup of tea anyway. The next question will be charging the thing. For job commuting it is enough to get there and back on one charge and then you can again plug it in your garage wall. For me that would be like ~100 km and that will soon be reality for almost any serious contender in the electric scene.
When that happens reliably (see next point) and the prices are affordable, whatever that means, then i'll start looking seriously into this.
--> The car must have a practical endurance somehow comparable to a gas car.
But it isn't enough! To replace the gas car, the electric must have essentially the same properties. Not all of the requirements are for the car either. You need a charging infrastructure and a sufficiently similar charging experience to filling up your gas tank. You can't be stranded in the middle of nowhere for hours (or half an hour either in practice) while your battery charges. Especially if you have to repeat every couple 100 km. I have a hard time seeing a business in maintaining a charging station where a gas station can't make a profit. And many of the existing stations are "cold" with no amenities - no fun standing in the snow while your vehicle slowly charges... We'll have to see what if anything comes out of that.
--> The car must be rechargeable "reasonably" while you are on a long trip.
If the global warming advances as fast as the most fanatical doomsayers predict, the next point may not be valid for much longer. But while waiting for that day, there is still the winter to consider in many places in the world, my place included.
Would you believe that an ordinary tram (yes, those that you have in some cities) could have trouble in the winter - in the middle of a city? Or that an electric train could fail just because it is cold and there's a bit of snow? And i don't mean it would be buried under or anything like that. Both true here. Several reputable mfgs have been unable to produce a tram that would reliably and repeatably make it through the winter in Helsinki city. The original ones made locally (by the way i happened to work for the maker of the electrics at that time) are still in commission waiting for the replacement to survive. And we have beautiful sleek trains made in Southern Europe that just die in the midle of nowhere come winter and the first blizzard.
So, what works nicely in California may not do so when the going gets tougher. Or it might, but we will have to see. At the same time, every gas car has a powerful fuel heater built right in under the hood. Sometimes under some conditions and in some cars that is barely enough to keep the windows clear and the occupants' butts unfrozen. Take an example: Nissan Leaf. According to recent tests it can do ~100km on 1 charge under favorable conditions. In -15 C that you regularly get in Northern latitudes it could do just 59 km with heating on (but no preheat). Now that is pitiful and less than useful. At the same time the car costs 40 000+ € here. As a replacement for the family gas car it is a bad joke really.
--> Electric cars must function in all weather conditions similarly to a gas car.
So while there are solutions for wealthy enthusiasts, unfortunately as far as the "general public" and less than balmy environments are concerned, looks like we are still waiting. But having said all of the above, i'm still rooting for electric and we will see it in common use one day. First they'll solve the easier challenges and maybe finally all of those listed above as well.
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