Pretty sure most people buy electric cars because it costs them less in the long term, especially with the rising price of oil and gas. They just claim it's for the environment and pat themselves on the back. Personally, I wish we could focus more research into making hydrogen fueled cars, although right now hydrogen fuel is not only pricey, but also mostly done by cooking hydrocarbons. As for electric batteries, I'm sure there could be ways of mining those minerals in a cleaner way, but that would WAY drive up the cost to the consumer, and hence, it will never happen.