After reading some of the post I can`t help thinking about the discussions people where having in the late 1890`s when the competing technologies for the horseless carriage of that period were electric, steam and internal combustion engines.
In the end the internal combustion engine was the technology of choice and as the 20th century rolled around Henry Ford introduced the first mass produced automobiles in 1907.
The acceptance of the automobile over the horse and buggy at the time was met was jokes and ridicule. The ability to get gas, lack of roads, noise and fumes, mechanical failures where all used as reason the horseless carriage would never replace the horse. People at the time where not ready to accept this form of transportation, they where familiar with horses but this "new fangeled contraption" was a mystery.
People during that period where also making statements much as they are today with their acceptance of the automobile over the horse as they are with their acceptance of electric motors over internal combustion engines. "I will walk before I...., You would have to kill me before I......, ect.
In the end the internal combustion automobile was King of transportation and the horse was relegated to racing and horseback riding and as a footnote in transportation history.
And just as with all things that are new and in development, the electric car will eventually replace gas powered cars. And the gas powered cars will also join the horse as a footnote in transportation history.
For anyone interested, here is decent history of the automobile.
http://www.ausbcomp.com/~bbott/cars/carhist.htm