Electricity in the US averages several cents per KWh higher than in Australia, but we're still talking around 10c - nothing like the price of petroleum-based energy (although of course all energy prices have gone up significantly in recent years). It makes brilliant economic sense to replace a gasoline-powered vehicle, like a car, with an electric one, like... a bicycle with an electric motor to help you up hills. There's a company making and selling electric bikes here in Melbourne, and my brother and I just went out to have a look. For $1600-$2400 (Australian dollars, but the US dollar is near enough) initial cost and a few cents a day for current, you can get 50km range on a bicycle with only about 2kg extra weight on it. I think that makes excellent economic sense for anyone who lives and works in a citified area. Of course, if you drive a heavy truck long distances, there's no way to change... but there are people who jump in their cars and drive from one car park to another to get lunch, when the only distance they're going is across the road. Duh!