Are electric cars losing their spark? - Rather than electrifying auto buyers, the plug-in car revolution is feeling more like a fizzle. A year after the first two plug-in electric cars from major makers went on sale, buyers appear put off by high sticker prices -- even with federal subsidies -- and, for the moment, by more-stable gasoline prices.

There is another safety issue involved in a crash of electric or electric hybrids--a rescuer can possible get a considerable, perhaps fatal shock even with the batteries nearly discharged.  It is my understanding they are equipped with a system to shutdown the high voltage systems in a crash event sufficient to cause airbag deployment but the potential is still there.