Netherlands becomes a proving ground for electric cars

New York Times : Despite advances in electric-car technology, all-electric vehicles continue to pose challenges for drivers used to the convenience of gas-powered cars. The more limited driving range afforded by the battery, which seems to be the biggest problem for most drivers, has led to a condition called “range anxiety.” Not surprisingly, the country where electric cars seem to have made the biggest inroads is also one of the smallest, the Netherlands. Long known for its environmental activism, the country has been heavily promoting the use of electric vehicles by rapidly expanding the network of charging stations, granting hefty tax breaks, and offering free street parking and recharging in Amsterdam, its largest city. Yet, despite an eightfold increase in the number of plug-in electric vehicles sold in the Netherlands last year, sales continue to be lower than anticipated.