On a side note, in Asheville, NC, local business are stepping up to the plate and building solar recharging stations for electric vehicles. They look kinda like a city bus stop with an exaggerated roof.
All the things we see in Popular Science CAN be done. It's just a matter of will.
Asheville has replaced sodium and mercury vapor street lights with LEDs which is saving the city hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. We have lots of hybrid city buses. The progressive city council has made lots of long term investment that is saving the city tons of money. As a result of these, and other, moves the city is one of the most financially healthy in the south and a major target for new and expanding businesses.