What might be advantageous about electric cars, consuming electricity generated by a regional commercial powerplant is that the powerplant might be able to burn a variety of fuels to generate electricity. Unfortunately, battery technology sucks. They either can't recharge quickly, or they don't have enough range. Wanna go on a road trip? Forget it. If we forgo the batteres then we are left with electric streetcars, with a hook on the roof that rides an electrified cable hanging above the street. I don't think people would go for that either. And the infrastructure doesn't exist.

Too bad cars can't run on a wood burner. Now that would be a simple fuel. Steam-power anyone? Maybe give it a gas-charged accumulator for greater throttling flexibility and regenerative breaking. Ah, ideas are a dime a dozen, probably less. How many people are actually working for a car company, and have both the ideas and the ability to implement them? They probably number a couple dozen in the whole world.