>>For a second car, an electric can be a great idea. I’m sure there are plenty of reasons not to use them, but if you like gadgets and want to go for it, I say go for it.
For a “second car” that has limited utility, I expect it to cost much less than than my primary all purpose car or truck. There’s a new motorcycle/car called the Elio that serves the short-range commuter niche much better than a $40k-80k electric. It uses gas, but gets 80 mpg and has a lot more range. And it is supposed to cost $8k (but I doubt that is entirely true since they haven’t delivered one yet).
I’d pay $15-20k for an electric that gets me back and forth to work, but no more than that. I’d get a Prius or VW TDI if I wanted to save fuel and pay more than my primary car cost.
I address this the same way I would a top line luxury car vs a more mid-range family car. You buy what suits you best. If the price is a prohibitive factor out of necessity or simply reasoned outlook, then go with the vehicle that is more reasonably priced.
I’ve seen some of the three wheeled motorcycles (if you want to term it that, and this may not be what you are referencing), and they are quite appealing.
The Prius brand never appealed to me. Obviously they do appeal to a lot of others. More power to ‘em.