[GaryVoshol]

Gas prices in Europe have been high for decades, and they don't have a huge electric car population or supporting infrastructure. I realize there are differences between Europe and North America - for example distances are much shorter in Europe and there is better public transportation. But the European makers haven't gone into electric on a large scale. Maybe even at the prices of their fuel - until recently at least $5.00 per gallon, higher in many countries - electric vehicles still don't make economic sense.

Cars that can burn E85 ethanol have been available from major American manufacturers for at least 15 years. Before a year ago, where could you find a gas station that had an E85 pump? I don't think the stations will be in a hurry to install swap-n-charge battery systems.

Massive replacement of gasoline vehicles with electrics would cause huge burdens on the existing electric grid. People claim the primary charging would be done overnight. In reality, you'd come home from work and plug in the car - at the same time everyone else is coming home and turning on appliances and lights, and air conditioning load is peaking. You wouldn't wait until bedtime to plug in the car - at least not after the first time you woke up at 3:00 am and had to go out because you forgot to plug in earlier. Or even worse, forgot completely and had to call the boss and explain why you'd be late.