I drove a Buddy electric car in Norway this summer and it was relatively unrefined, alright downright crude, but it got the job done and it is really all a person needs around town.
The Mitsubishi electric cars are a large step ahead. I got a ride in one during their cross country tour and it's performance is all you need to join the herd on a 400 series highway. In terms of comfort and handling it is also more than acceptable. Range is around 120km and it would take overnight to recharge on 120v.
4 hours I think on 220 and 30 minutes using the special Eaton charger.
The Mini must have a considerably longer recharge time as both it's power and range are greater than those of the Mitsubishi.
In any case, this is the future and it is not painful. The point to remember is all these cars are basically electric systems dropped into gas paradigms. Once designers get a bit of experience and start from the ground up, the end products will be vastly more refined and efficient.
We can live with electric cars now as they exist but few would chose to do so. That will change quickly though.
Maybe electronic jewelry won't be as sexy as petro-ornamentation but it it will get the basic job done very well.
Cheers,
John Meyer