Interesting excerpt from Wikipedia:
"At the turn of the century, 40 percent of American automobiles were powered by steam, 38 percent by electricity, and 22 percent by gasoline. 33,842 electric cars were registered in the United States, and America became the country where electric cars had gained the most acceptance.
[16] While basic electric cars cost under $1,000 (in 1900 dollars, roughly $26,000 today), most early electric vehicles were massive, ornate carriages designed for the upper-class customers that made them popular. They featured luxurious interiors, replete with expensive materials, and averaged $3,000 by 1900 (roughly $78,000 today). Sales of electric cars peaked in 1912.
[1]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History...ectric_vehicle
Back then, the free market decided what worked and what didn't. As Ford made the price of gasoline powered cars drop to $360, it just didn't make financial sense to buy an electric car. And we're all better off because of it.
Here's to the free market.
May she rest in peace.