@James Anderson (mostly) & others
Oh no, not again! Must we go through this brainless twaddle every fortnight or so? Internal Combustion Engines are grossly inefficient - roughly (from memory) 30% - not counting the rest of the losses in the supply chain. You all need to google "well to wheel efficiency" - even if the ultimate energy source is fossil-fuel, ICE cars are much less efficient than battery-electric (e.g. 0.28 km/MJ ICE compared to 1.14 km/MJ electric). But (as Lee T says), electric cars offer the opportunity to use non-fossil-fuel sources. They also stimulate competition and innovation in energy generation and delivery. The electricity grid is approximately 92% efficient and conversion efficiencies typically >90% - considerably more efficient than petrol refinement and transport.
Oh, and electric vehicles are emissions free! Yes, that's at the tailpipe - but even if coal is burned, at least there's a chance CO2 can be sequestered, which is not possible at all with petrol. But (to repeat) electric vehicles are MUCH more efficient and can draw energy from renewables or nuclear. How else do you suggest we achieve emissions reduction without resorting to horse and cart? No, don't mention hydrogen - it's far less efficient and more expensive than battery-electric, and most industrial hydrogen sources still emit CO2 (as its mostly derived from natural gas).
Knowing this is El Reg, I expect a good deal of comments above are trolls looking for a reaction. If not, and the above is truly representative of the level of understanding of these problems and potential solutions, then, basically, we're fucked.