In Norway more than 50% of all new cars are electric. They are heavily subsidised, but it proves that it is only an economic question. I was born in the seventies. My next car will be electric. The only reason I’m holding of is that there’s no model that fit our needs yet (except an very expensive Tesla), but I expect that to change within two years.

For industrial heat they will use hydrogen produced from renewable electricity. See for example [0] where it will be used for large scale steel production.

All the technical and economical components for the shift are already in place. The only thing lacking is political will (and apparently knowledge).

[0] https://www.ssab.com/products/brands/docol/automotive-insigh...

> "industrial heat, and residential heating "

For decades Russia has used distruct heating using waste heat from nuclear powerplants, its the chealest heatsource known to man.

More modern approach is probably hydrogen and heat pumps, but either works.

Range anxiety is a brain bug for folks that have never driven electric.

Yeah right, and those are simply older folks. Most of them will never switch. Those who will be only buying their first car in 2030 will probably buy electric, sure, but it will be another 20 years before these people will become the majority of buyers. These people are in the middle school now.

Your belief that older people won't buy electric is completely baseless and untrue.

I'm almost fifty and looking for buying an electric car. My parents just bought a plug in hybrid, but would have bought a fully electric if any suitable was available to a reasonable price.

There is a HN article about using iron for industrial heat. The only downside is that transportation is expensive. If it can be electrolyzed on site it's going to be a game changer.

> But, given still higher costs and range anxiety, it will be very difficult to convince most consumers to buy electric cars.

Range anxiety is only an issue for long journeys.