One thing to keep in mind is that battery technology is slowly improving and will continue to improve, as we rely on batteries more and more in our daily lives. The Leaf doesn't even use the best technology we currently have available, never mind what will be available in 50 years.

I mean, look at the batteries we were using just 20 years ago vs. what we're using today. The first battery powered drill I bought I got so frustrated with the lack of power and need of constant charging that I ended up running over it with a D6 bulldozer on purpose. Now, I've got Lithium-ion powered drills that have lighter and smaller batteries, which are much more powerful and last longer between charges....and that's in a $250 drill, never mind a $25,000+ car.


If you look into the research on battery and ultra-capacitor technology, it's quite promising.