I would agree with you that there are too many established industries that still get gov't subsidies for one reason or another LONG after they've become viable and profitable. If a company has crossed that threshold of profitability and can stand on it's own two feet then subsidies after that point are purely political in nature in most cases.

As for the long-term viability of electric cars, I will point out that there is only ONE thing standing between them and full viability and market growth, and that is range, due to their energy storage system (battery for now, who knows in 5 years). Overcome that single hurdle, and they become a much smarter choice than ICE's, due to size, power to weight ratios, simplicity, lack of maintenance (how often do most of us do any maintenance on an electric motor around the house, and when you do, how does a motor rebuild compare in effort level and complexity to an overhaul on a V6 or V8?). Couple those benefits with an energy storage system that has rapid recharge capabilities and can offer a 3-400 mile range, and EV's quickly become a better option. No more hauling gasoline to gas stations all over creation, since there isn't a place in the country for the most part that isn't on the grid. Generation would have to be beefed up, but that is already a necessity due to population increases and the simple age of the infrastructure, but that seems to be an issue no one wants to tackle, mainly because of cost, but no one disagrees that our power distribution grid and many parts of our generation grid are desperately in need of upgrading and increased capacity.