My concern about Electric Cars and Self Driving Cars of all types

I am no Luddite.

If the electric car is practical it will sell and people will drive it.

If the self driving car is useful for many purposes people will use it.

My issue is I do NOT trust government.  I trust this one (some), but I do NOT trust the potential for another Obama or worse who loves to control things in power and instituting policies that stop autonomous driving in the name of safety and the climate.

In Europe, India and China they are already moving towards elimination of internal combustion vehicles.  I'm for reducing Pollution and improving air quality.  Here's the rub.  In Europe, a place I lived, everything is 4 hours away at 100 MPH.  Easy access.  If they eliminate IC vehicles that means your likely circle of visitation by vehicle is 75 miles radius.  (150/2 in range)   At that you'll limp in with your last electron.  Or stranded dead in the water 7 miles from home in a bad neighborhood.

This is much like what dictatorships do where they restrict travel.  No getting in your car and leaving town.  They control that because your range is shot.  AND when you sign up to get re-powered, you can't siphon electricity out of your neighbors car.  You can be told, "You do not have authorization from the department of travel to go to Paris".  It's a control thing.  It's not good.

Self Driving cars are even more concerning.  You can drive anywhere your self driving care is allowed to drive.  If you change your mind along the way and want to stop for a burger, nope.  If you have to pee.  Nope.  What is worse it the routes will be soon restricted to self driving cars because you can't have reckless autonomous cars running into the self drivers.

Autonomous vehicles will be restricted to secondary and unimproved roads. Going for a drive to see the Christmas lights will be a thing of the past.

These "Innovations" reek of control and I'm not happy with that.  Certainly a self driving car makes sense and as an older American having mobility even if I'm not allowed to drive is a good thing.  This for Children as well.

I just don't trust that in the future when all this is in place there will not be some tyrannical government coming along that uses it to reward, punish and control the populace.  Vote for us or you lose your car.  Or I can see someone saying, "If you like your car, you can keep your car".  I remember those intonations from a few years back.

Plus, the idea that someone would use government agencies to abuse power and punish political enemies only needs to look at Obama's use of the IRS, the EPA (See Gibson) and the FCC to overreach.   I don't trust them, no matter who.  

As someone once famously said.  "YOU LIE". He was right.