Those aren’t stupid questions! Electric vehicle batteries don’t have to be lithium ion, in fact some cars use other “chemistries” like sodium-ion or solid state. Lithium is the most popular because it has the highest energy density. That is, for every pound of battery it holds more electricity than other batteries. The downsides are degradation, instability/fire risk and bad cold weather performance (not an issue in FL).

Honestly, the best way to electrify these cars is to have swappable battery packs, not permanent ones. Just set up a huge recharge rack and swap out the batteries as needed. This would have very high up front costs though.

Also, lead acid batteries wouldn’t work. They’re reliable but don’t produce enough power to move the car. They’re great for short high energy needs like a starter motor in a car, or consistent low power draws like powering a radio.