Why not electric cars?

[AngryAmish]

Trains engines consist to diesel power plants to make electricity that is turned into mechanical energy near the wheels. Big tractors and such also work by that principle. Why not cars? Is this inefficient at the small scale?

[Xithras]

1. That's what hybrids are.

Gas engines creating electricity for electric motors.

The problem isn't efficiency, it's that small electric motors typically lack horsepower. I've driven purely electric vehicles before (a Rabbit conversion), and they are gutless as all hell...my 1964 VW Beetle felt like a sports car afterward.

[AlGore-08.com]

2. I'm not an engineer, but I think the practical problems are two fold:

1.) They haven't figured out how to make a battery that can hold enough juice to power cars driving long distances without power stations (that's why the hybrids have a combination of gas & electric power).

2.) Nobody thought up a cost effective way to put charging stations across the country - - they'd have to be (basically) as many places as gas stations. That would be a huge investment in infrastructure, which means - - class? - - raising taxes on somebody and - - here's your gimme extra credit question - - p*ssing off the powerful petro-chemical lobby.

The popularity of the hybrids and the skyrocketing price of gas might change that political dynamic, but Honda is already passing out fuel cell cars for beta-testing to average consumers, so that may end up being the better solution than pure electric cars...

Edited to add: I love my Prius!!