I don't think I paint e-vehicles rosy at all, and it is not true that the electric car is worse than the gas driven car. If you have clean electricity from for example windmills the e-car is cleaner. You are right about the batteries being completely inadequate, and we simply don't know if a better battery will emerge.

Truth be told I think rails is the best and most comfortable way of travelling, and with low friction and overhead power lines it does solve all of the above problems. That is the way I travel.

As for surveillance it is true that many electricity services are monitored - at least in England. I had a hard time, and as a result the poor heroes of my comic had a hard time finding ways to recharge their rebuilt veteran car without being tracked by the intelligence services. On the other hand - they are tracking credit cards and cellphones too so when you buy that gas you better use cash :)