I think you're right Termoil, I can't see that electric vehicles are going to make a major impact soon in Australia or here in the UK. At a time that the country is in a recession and they are talking about reducing public expenditure - who is going to pay for the infrastructure to make them practical/usable apart from in city centres?

Here in UK we've been paying around £1 (A$ 2) a litre petrol/£1.05 (A$ 2.10)diesel for a couple of years now with a spike last year when world oil was at $140+ a barrel of £1.32 (A$2.65) for diesel. There was a bit of a reduction in miles driven at the peak and a lot of public outcry but it quickly went back 'to normal' as prices dropped. I'm personally still driving 20,000 miles a year (two thirds/12k miles is just getting to work). So 'slow/steady' rises do seem to be absorbed. If oil goes to $200 a barrel then by looking at past ratios I estimate that our prices will go up to around £1.80-£1.90 level (A$3.60-A$3.80). If this happens in the near future/quickly (18mths) it is going to be a major headache as our society isn't ready but I'm sure we will cope as a lot of people can reduce their mileage dramatically and relatively easily without reducing their quality of life (flexible working from home, working the week over 4 days rather than 5, lift sharing, public transport, reducing travel speed, getting a more efficient car (my present one only does 45mpg)). I know I can, and am working on my lifestyle/behaviour now to try an stay ahead of the price rises.