Yes they have their place, but they are NOT a replacement for what we currently have - and should not be oversold pretending that they are.
Well, they will eventually.
Look at the various manufacturer's 10 year plan and most if not all are switching to either hybrid and/or electric only.
You are correct, they are not currently a full replacement, most entirely due to infrastructure.
Until the gas companies get on board and start putting fast charging stations in the same lot as gas stations, it will be more limited.
It also depends entirely on the situation, anyone who lives within 30-50 round trip commute could completely stop paying for gas.
Of course gas right now is still relative cheap (in america anyway), but it has and will probably continue creeping up with the combination of storms recently and currently. And the vehicle prices need to drop lower still.
Already there are governments stating intentions and plans to ban fossil fuel cars. I know, its unlikely a full ban will happen in the foreseeable future, but the manufactures already see the writing on the wall.
My guess for the future of EV will be at least one of two things;
- using capacitors for super fast charging. Either completely in place of standard batteries, or a combination. I don't think the technology is quite there yet of course, but I believe it will get here sooner or later.
or
- using a standardized removable battery, where you can pull up to a car wash looking building, pull in, have your empty battery dropped out the bottom of your car, and a freshly charged battery rotated in. in this scenario, it would be like propane canisters for your gas grill. Drop your empty can off at 7-11 and pick up a full one. No doubt this would require some kind of recurring service fee or leasing deal, or it could be included in the first few years of a new vehicle. And like above, the standardized battery could be used in conjunction with fixed batteries that you charge normally.
Anyway, if we are not already past the tipping point, we are within a couple model years, then the car(t) will be before the horse, and the horse (gas/energy companies) will have to play catch up on the infrastructure.
BTW, with my volt, so far 99% of my charging is at home via 220 dryer hook up. A couple times I have plugged into a free public charger (like at a restaurant/hotel), and I've plugged into a couple 110v outlets in a parking garage.
But, due to the nature of the Volt, most of the time I just drive normally and plugin when I get home.
I can go 600+ miles on 9 gallons of gas (charging at home every night). And if I lived/worked closer, could go even further without filling up. That's only ~66mpg. Some volt owners go a year or more without filling up.