It’s just a matter of physics, and the storage capacity of energy. No batteries ever invented or contemplated pack as much energy potential in the same volume/weight as a gallon of gasoline. Sorry, but you can’t “wish” away that basic fact.
I agree with you that the government should not be involved in industry and technological developments. I also agree with you that gasoline has a far greater capacity to store energy than electicity, at our current technological development.
But I don’t think that will always be the case, because electrons take far less space than carbon molecules. I think, in time, electricity will be the eventual winner between the two. It’s just a matter of time before we find the proper storage medium for electricity.
Government involvement should not be involved. Look where the private space enterprises are, without government help. They’ve been able to do much more then NASA, in about the same time period.