[Finnster]

Well there is no free power anywhere as everything has a side effect or cost, but I don't think that means we should be moving back into caves, nor saying F' it and just do whatever dirty thing we want as if nothing will matter.

The advantage of using elec cars is that even if you are using fossil fuels as the source energy, by moving the combustion of these fuels to plants where the reaction can be optimized and add pollution controls far beyond what can be done in an auto engine. Car engines must operate under so many competing factors, they just end up not that efficient. The operate in all sorts of weather, but be small and light, operate in a large range of rpms, limited space/weight for pollution control equip, and must be cheap. And we let every broke bastard be responsible for the upkeep and tuning, which not everyone does.

Not only that, but we can use many many diff source energies, ie oil, gas, solar, wind, biomass, etc etc. Anyway, I don't think we will consume anywhere near the amt of lithium that is available. Besides, the Bolivians could use the cash far more than the Saudi princes. lol Maybe there are some good invest opps there. ;)

I'd love a 1:1 elec car once they got the batts worked out. Think of all that crap you can strip off the car due to the gas engine. These are hardly pollution free either: Exhaust, catalytic converters (these are very toxic) sensors mufflers, trannies, clutches, brake pads, etc etc etc. A elec motor could run longer than the chassis would stay together. Sign me up.