From Edmunds Green Car Advisor:
I guess the good news is that about 30% of Americans would pay extra for an electric car--but most of them would not pay more $5,000.About two out of three Americans say they wouldn't be willing to pay more for an electric car than for a comparable gas-powered vehicle, while just 17 percent said they'd pay more than a $5,000 premium for an EV, Nielsen Co. said, citing its September poll of more than 2,300 people.
To me, the reason is obvious. People are still mostly motivated by costs, not by environmentalism, and the reduced range of an electric vehicle is also a point of concern for the average person. Now, if gas prices would stabilize around $4/gallon, I am sure the numbers would shift.