Subsidies are a pain, especially when you see the rich being subsidized for expensive electrics like the Tesla. Yet, without the subsidies, I doubt ETVs would have reached this stage, now almost at the threshold of mainstream. 

Even more importantly, it served as a kick in the back side to the auto industry to get their act together, make more efficient gas vehicles, and be more environmentally responsible.

The proof of this bitter medicine is in the results. The auto industry responded with much better vehicles in the last few years. Partly because of the Bush era downturn of course, but fuel efficiency was a big part of it.