New
York Times: Despite advances in electric-car technology,
all-electric vehicles continue to pose challenges for drivers
used to the convenience of gas-powered cars. The more limited
driving range afforded by the battery, which seems to be the
biggest problem for most drivers, has led to a condition called
"range anxiety." Not surprisingly, the country where electric
cars seem to have made the biggest inroads is also one of the
smallest, the Netherlands. Long known for its environmental
activism, the country has been heavily promoting the use of
electric vehicles by rapidly expanding the network of charging
stations, granting hefty tax breaks, and offering free street
parking and recharging in Amsterdam, its largest city. Yet,
despite an eightfold increase in the number of plug-in electric
vehicles sold in the Netherlands last year, sales continue to
be lower than anticipated.
