Electric Cars the Future?

Electric cars are often seen as the pollution free option for future travel. Seldom discussed are the issues associated with introducing this new technology. In the great enthusiasm and glitter of the new there often lurks a downside.
A great example of one of these downsides was the early morning in a car park while yours truly was rummaging in the passenger footwell trying to extract my bag. It was dark and the car park was empty - hundreds of spare places. I first became aware of the other car when it was less than a metre from my leg!  The driver had not anticipated a figure in the darkness on the blind side of the only car for a hundred metres and decided to park next to me. Luckily he stopped and I jumped - yes electric cars pass the noise test.
Then there is the great advantage of no pollution, at least not where the driver is breathing, that is. The electricity has to be generated somewhere and currently large combustion plants account for a big share of air pollutant emissions across the EU: 46% of sulphur dioxide, 18% of nitrogen oxide, 39% of mercury and 4% of dust. The need for electricity to charge cars in addition to our current escalating requirements is an interesting issue.