I would make a slightly different bet: that all-electric vehicles are inevitable, but that they require the invention of an energy storage system that may be nothing like a battery.
The energy density of even the best batteries is just terrible -- a few hundred Wh/kg vs. 13,000 Wh/kg for gasoline. Eight gallons of unleaded contains one gigajoule of energy, and you can pump the stuff (or "recharge" the gas tank) at a rate of 10 GPM, which is 20 megawatts. Carbon-based fuels have their problems, but any serious attempt to replace them must begin with an appreciation of how bloody amazing they are.
Last edited by flashflood; 03-03-2012 at 02:39 AM.
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