It’s going to take more than high gas prices to get Americans into electric autos, according to a leading consumer economist. The San Jose Mercury News reports:
"There are over 100,000 gas stations in this country, but only 2,600 [electric] charging stations, of which more than 300 are private," [Economist Lacey] Plache said. "Charging a vehicle only at home at night is insufficient for some consumers' driving habits; other consumers are simply plagued by range anxiety and do not want to risk being stranded."
Moreover, the financial numbers still don't make sense for most consumers.
Compared to a Nissan Versa, a Leaf owner would have to hold on to the Leaf for seven years in order to recoup the price difference through fuel-cost savings at $4 a gallon.
Gas prices have soared by more than 50 cents per gallon in 2012.