Electric cars still a hard sell for most consumers

In the early days of the electric vehicle, they called it "opportunity charging." You plugged in wherever you could. There are now hybrids that use gas engines to charge the battery, hybrids that have sockets for plugging in and, of course, totally electric vehicles. It''s enough to make a formerly unique concept seem almost ordinary. Even several tried-and-true models on the showroom floor now offer various levels of electrification, said a report published in Detroit News newspaper Sunday. But if there''s a full-blown revolution coming, it isn''t here yet. While the hybrid market is growing, in 2012 it comprises just 2.46 percent of the overall market. Electric vehicle sales represent less than 1 percent, according to industry watcher Edmunds.com. Electric vehicles are still a hard sell for the average consumer. The price tag is high, and the lower fuel costs don''t immediately make up the difference. Charging stations are available but not on every corner, and most take hours, instead of minutes. Even the best-laid plans can leave some motorists doing just about anything to hold their battery''s charge, particularly in cold weather.