Secret cabals by the oil companies to keep electrics off the roads? I'm paranoid, but not that paranoid.

Maybe the technology is just not ready for prime time. Maybe it just doesn't make economic sense to try and make these cars with the level of performance we can expect. Or maybe the laws of physics tell us it just takes so many Joules to move so many kilograms over so many kilometers at so many klicks, no matter where the energy comes from.

I'm certain if it were possible to build an electric car with the performance Americans want at a price Americans were willing to pay the big 3 (as well as all the import outfits) would be scrambling to make one. I don't think there's any conspiracy here at all, it's just engineering and economics.

OTOH, I do think we can make a traditional reciprocating engine vehicle which can carry 4 passengers at freeway speeds at 40 miles per gallon for under 10K$. And we could do it now.

The price we'd pay would be it would small, have poor accelleration, and be uncomfortable. I'd buy one, but I doubt most Americans would.
And I doubt the auto companies would make enough profit on it to be interested.