electric cars

[. . . .]

I think time is needed. There's no point hoping that we will have e-cars en masse by the end of the week. At the end of the decade seems like a much more realistic take. And this is just to develop technologies...

And batteries are complicated. Many use expensive metals (hence recycling can help) and using an acid is generally required (as an electrolyte if im not mistaken). And you need a battery that can make a strong current. Safe is not how I'd describe a battery.

That is another factor you made me think of..

Which car will go BOOM if in a catastrophic accident?
The battery powered car wont as far as I know but it will leak acidic battery fluids.
Hydrogen is flammable.
And to be a smart ass steam powered vehicles tend to explode occasionally.