What always amazes me is that the same folks who always advocate for density, urbanization, walkability, etc., are the same folks who advocate things like plug-in cars. Which is fine, except that the two don't meet up very well! I mean, is their answer, "You live in the city, so walk/take the bus/carshare" or something? I've never seen this addressed.

For instance, I'm a good example: I live in a mid-rise apartment 5 miles from DC and park in an outdoor lot. I drive my car only a few times a month. I use mass transit to work and run errands on a bike. But I need my car to tend to family obligations.

A plugin car would be great for me (if I could be assured it would get me to my mom's house about 400 miles away -- almost exactly 1 tank of gas). Except I can't plug it in! I don't see my building's owner ripping up the parking lot to install outdoor plugs for all 200-odd spaces.

@teodoro: if I were still young enough I would totally write a thesis about this stuff! What to do with the car? Where does the electricity for the cars come from (I like the Appalachains with their mountaintops intact, thanks)? What about LNG/gas vs oil? What happens to the grid itself? They write themselves!! Maybe I should tell my sister...