It’s fun to watch a Tesla car slide down the road and know that it’s all-electric; Still, the industry has a ways to go before electric cars can compete on consumer price, before widespread adoption is fully feasible. Trust me when I tell you I’m not against EVs, it’s just that I see a lot of challenges: cost, weight, subsidies, efficiencies, range, charging infrastructure, etc. And I cringe when I hear people explain how to pave that proverbial ‘road to hell’ with Good Intentions Paving Company LLC. Okay, so let’s talk, okay?

Here are five points about the future of electric vehicles and the real challenges facing the industry:

1). Current battery weight: EV batteries add significantly to the weight of cars; Proponents say that’s okay because the new lightweight materials will keep the weight down. True, but if those lightweight materials can do that, they can also do it for gasoline, diesel, natural gas, hydrogen, or steam cars. Which means more competition, At 100 mpg because due to the low weight it is now a huge selling point.

two). Disposal of end-of-life batteries: Where do all these batteries with chemicals that are not so good for the environment go? Defenders say; it is not a big thing. Still, if old cell phones are considered hazardous waste in part because of the batteries they contain, then car batteries, which are much larger and contain vast amounts of material, are even more problematic.

3). Slow growth: EVs currently make up such a small percentage of the total that they make no real difference to fossil fuel use, so if that’s the goal, it will take decades to achieve and will require massive government intervention. Hasn’t government intervened enough in free markets lately (Healthcare, Biofuels, for example) and how has that worked for us?

4). Electric Vehicle Rebates: When the government gives out rebates, we all end up paying for them with higher taxes. If EVs cost an average of $10,000 more and we give rebates, we are subsidizing one sector over another sector, picking and choosing the winners. It is wise to allow the EV industry to come closer and find ways to lower prices to compete.

5). Electric vehicles are quiet: proponents say that’s a good thing. But tell that to the kid or cyclist who didn’t hear them coming and got crushed. Some electric vehicles now have “sound” to alert approaching people, and you can choose the sound you want, several options. That’s fine, but it negates the concept and/or benefits of such serenity associated with electric vehicles. Sound also requires power to produce it, ask any car sound system audio installer, a second battery or batteries are often added for larger systems.

The electric vehicle industry will have to solve these challenges before it is fully accepted by consumers or before electric vehicles can supplant the cars we drive today. Please consider this.