Are they actually good?

I like the idea of being environmentally friendly but they are not easily charged, limited in distance, and very silent runners. I nearly got run down by one. It made no noise and was on me before I knew it.
I just wonder how environmentally friendly they are. As I understand it, it takes incredible amounts of power to produce electricity. About 40% is converted in to electricity. Still it may cut down some of the pollution and that has to be a good thing (imo). Trouble is, will that ever convince petrol heads like Jeremy Clarkson. I believe he drinks a gallon before he goes to sleep and another gallon with his cornflakes.

Exactly! Electricity is produced by burning raw materials, can it truly be environmentally friendly?

I'm not exactly sure.

I'll stick with my little Corsa for now with the EcoTec engine.

When the fuel does finally run out they will have to dust off Tesla's books on zero point energy.

My son is a mechanic.

This is his take on it:

Electric cars use up electricity from the power plant. So you are simply replacing one type of dirty fuel (gasoline in the US) for another type of dirty fuel.

But, I will tell you this, I work at the Fiat of Austin Dealership, and our Fiat dealership does not sell electric Fiats.

Last week a young lady came in and asked if we sold electric Fiats.
I said" "Sorry, no we don't! Only California and the New England regions do (both coasts)"

And she said: "Darn it! I have solar panels and they make more electricity than I could possibly use in a day, and I am wanting to get an electric car!"

But we get LOTS of sunshine in Texas.
NOT Chicago, rains there almost every day, and if it does not rain, it is overcast.

England might have similar issues to Chicago.

I think that is true but you can keep the winters. Its bad enough here but I understand Chicago is colder.

I was once on a train from Glasgow to London, an electrified route, and I overheard a conversation between an elderly woman and her adult daughter. The older woman said something about the train and her daughter said that it was electric. "Look, you can see the wires over the other track".There was a pause, then the mother said,"Where do they plug it in"?

LOL!
In Chicago the actual train tracks are electrified.
If you step on them you are zapped into the afterlife!

Third rail. Not the running rails. As it is DC it doesn't arc, you have to come into contact. AC will arc 2 or 3 feet. Which is why it is suspended overhead. Most of the lines in the south east are 3rd rail.

Great point! I think that's true.