tin hat. i love that. cars (and their history) are my thing, i think about these issues a great deal (early studebaker history anyone?)
it all comes down to money. if the market demands (using their wallets) companies will produce. right now, the market is only demanding 'cheap' and 'convenient', so all the solutions produced will make use of existing gasoline distribution infrastructure. why? because its: A. inexpensive, proven technology, and B. gas pumps are EVERYWHERE.
it has taken us quite a few years to get to this level of sophistication. you can start a cross-country trip in the US on a half-full tank, and know that you will have the fuel to make it, cause there will be at least two gas-stations in every podunk cross-roads you pass. yes, most folks dont go on cross-country trips that often, but when a family member gets sick in a distant city in the middle of the night, you can get in your car and go without the slightest thought to when the batteries will run out. americans at least, will NEVER give that up. long recharge times and limited range are EXACTLY why the orignal electric cars were displaced by gasoline.
these are fundamentally only engineering challenges. when the cost of fuel rises to the point that the market demands of 'cheap' are no longer being met, there will be enough capital in the system to develop and market alterative solutions. free market has ALWAYS worked this way, the rules have not changed.
fortunately for us, the japanese can read the writing on the wall far better than US companies. while i dont think the hybrids are worth all the hype, at least it demonstrates awareness of coming engineering challenges, and makes reasonable use of existing automotive technology.
there is NO conspiracy, only disparity of resource allocation. a disparity that the US government is doing a poor job of offsetting, but patent seeking companies are rectifying.
allan