Another possibility instead of a gas turbine would be a diesel electric, kind of like the Top Gear Hammerhead Eagle i-Thrust, but you know, one that works.

Well IIRC CAFE regulations will mandate a weighted 55mpg average by 2025. There are two realistic ways to reach that goal: small displacement diesels, like what nearly all of Europe drives, and range extended electrics. With diesel you have the issues of sulfur emissions - which can probably be solved - and a stigma in the States against buying diesels of any kind - which is slowly going away. Range extended electrics have major advantages in terms of potential handling - put a motor in each wheel, and you can control power and torque going to each wheel independently and even engine brake when you need to. You no longer need differentials, and your suspension setup can be a whole lot simpler. The latest SLS AMG Electric demonstrates what is possible, and I think this is definitely the way to go for efficient performance cars. Put in a tiny diesel generator, and you have a very realistic car. BMW's i brand, despite the awful name, seems to be hedging its bets on that. Plus, the torque characteristics of electric motors make them very suitable for heavier-duty cars like trucks and vans, and even for off-roaders, the ability to engine-brake means you don't need a low range gearbox or even a gearbox of any kind period. Electric drive is very attractive for a lot of reasons.

But, pure electric fails for the obvious range reason, but also because you need an enclosed garage to store the car in where it could be charged. Keeping a car on the street and charging it every night with an extender cable out in public is not realistic. Pure electrics are suitable for only a small portion of the public, and throw in range anxiety and you have what from a business standpoint seems like a losing proposition for a volume manufacturer. Yes, there will be niche pure EVs, and yes, you can make an EV handle really well - the center of gravity can be a lot lower than in any IC car - but as of right now, manufacturers are abandoning the idea of a pure EV as a mass-market car. People aren't buying them, and the much promised battery breakthroughs aren't happening. Time is running out for manufacturers, and they have to bet on existing technologies to meet upcoming emissions demands, not bet on future breakthroughs that may not happen.

Also, I think manufacturers are realizing that hubris will not sell. You can't tell people what they want. People will tell you what they want, and if you don't make what they want, nobody will buy your cars. What's more, you create a market niche for somebody to come and build what people want, and they'll make a killing while you lose money.

Bit of a rant, maybe. We're at a crossroads: either the CAFE regulations will be repealed (I hope so), manufacturers will figure out a way to make exciting, interesting cars that meet said regulations and sell well (reasonably possible) or manufacturers are forced into a second energy crisis like the the 70s, make boring new cars that sell like ass, and more companies file for chapter 11. This is also reasonably possible. I think we'll see a mix of option 2 and option 3.

Lastly, keep in mind that the last days of an old technology are always better than the first days of a new technology. Just look at the Doble Model E, and compare it to what else was out there in 1925. Yes, EVs aren't new, and even hybrids and range-extended EVs aren't new (look up the 1913 Owen Magnetic), and back in the day (1900-1920 or so) NYC had charging stations for electric cars at every intersection. Even so, EVs and hybrids are barely developed compared to IC and there is a ton of room for improvement.

What do you mean people aren't buying EVs? The Leaf is selling 2000 a month in the US and Nissan can't make them fast enough to keep up with demand. The dealer fleet of Leafs right now is about 2600 nationwide. Compare to even the Volt which has a dealer fleet of about 9000 and only selling 1200-1500 a month.

Sure these aren't Honda Accord 35,000 per month numbers, but the cars being made are selling as fast as they can be.

Some bad press, but I don't think the cars themselves were bad. There are some definite improvements in the 2013 model and I'm glad I was unaware of it until these came out. Had I found the Leaf with a decent lease when this whole thread started last year I would be stuck for at least another year, more likely 2, in a Leaf that wasn't as good. Strongly considering a fully TOTL Leaf SL with premium package, but we'll see what the numbers say.

Lol, not with those hinges.  People will trip going out the door and kill themselves.  It would not hold up well over time and likely weigh and cost too much to implement.  Look at all the weight and torque that would be generated on that single hinge.  Now you are going to tell me it's going to stand up to daily use for the life of the vehicle?  No way.  That design won't even support a LED TV well enough without bending and flexing.  Plus that massive, ridiculous hinge would be taking up space where the battery pack should go.  Scissors make more sense.