You know that electric cars predate the internal combustion engine, right.
Right?
1832, you could buy electric cars. Electric cars competed directly against the horse, steam cars, internal combustion engine cars, Stirling engine cars, wood gas cars, ... For 200 years now, they have always been available. In 1890, they were 90% of the taxis in New York city in fact.
The simple fact of the matter is, this mature technology is already as affordable and efficient and dependable and safe as it is ever going to get.
Legislation is your only option.