This paper discusses the feasibility for adopting electric vehicles (EV) for urban transport, replacing conventional private vehicles. Considerations need to be made of the potential greenhouse gas benefits of EV, the ability for EV to be used as direct replacements for present day vehicles, and the infrastructure and power supply implications of a wholesale shift to electric powered private transport. The paper presents the results of a feasibility study conducted for two major Australian cities, Sydney and Adelaide. The overall conclusion is that introduction of current technology electric vehicles could impact significantly on daily journeys made within a 100 km charge range. The case studies show that the large majority of motorised journeys are accomplished within this range, an observation expected to provide a similar result for other Australian metropolitan areas - and perhaps other cities as well. In addition, it must be emphasised that for a maximum benefit from electric vehicles, electricity should be acquired from renewable sources. The study findings should have implications for the adoption of EV technology in other cities around the world.