ucodegen, you said “There is no way for a battery to contain the same amount of energy per pound as a gallon of gasoline.”
I agree that today’s batteries can’t, but why do you say that there is no way? I don’t see why future batteries, which will keep improving as technology is improved, could hold even more energy than gasoline on a pound per pound comparison. Also, I’ve heard of ultra capacitors possibly being used in electric cars, which could be a significant break through.
In addition, I’ve read that that the “well-to-wheel” efficiency is better using an electric car than a gasoline car. In other words, generating electricity at a remotely located power plant using a gallon of gas (as an example)and using that electricity in an eclectic car, even taking into account the transmission loss, can actually be more efficient use of the gas than when used in a car. This is because the power plant is much more efficient and clean in the power conversion process.
Plus, you add the flexibility of being able to generate electricity by a variety of means, as opposed to being limited to gas. Once the price of solar panels comes down, people can install panels on their roof and possibly drive with only the cost of vehicle maintenance.
I admit we likely do not have the power generation facilities to accommodate a large number of electric cars today, but it is certainly a feasible alternative in the near future.
