When they come out with electric (plug in) cars, will it be like buying a vaccum at Sears, use it for 20 years

Question

then throw it away and get another one? Will car dealers and gas stations go the way of the horse and buggy? If so, how long will the transition take, 5 years?

Answer 1

Actually,totally electric cars have been in use and development for quite a number of years. Different systems provide the electricity, but most involve the use of batteries, much like any other portable electric device. One good example of this technology is the Toyota Prius. Although a hybed, using both gas and electric, when operating on electricity, rechargeable batteries provide the power to operate the vehicle. The technology behind modern power cells, in the form of the type of rechargeable cells in cars, is quite impressive. The individual cells are just like individual batteries in a flashlight, and can be replaced one at a time as needed, as they get old, and "wear out", so to speak. Many cells are required to power a car, but with a track record of more than 2 years before any need of replacement is common, and then for only a single cell at a time, this is becoming a less expensive way to power a car, if you look at maintenence costs. The technology is so good, you may want a different car, but just buy the body, to put on the power system and frame of the car you have. General motors already have prototype vehicle plans to do this.
It's not likely to transition from gas to electric, much less in 5 years, but more likely to be a progression from gas power, to hybreds, using gas/electric, gas/ethanol.(an alchohol), and as a departure from gasoline completely, hydrogen gas, which when burned , leaves only water vapor as byproduct .