[Rebel_Ace]

My two cents (adjusted for inflation, actual value may be less):

The diesel-electric hybrid propulsion concept has more than 60 years of proven market acceptance in the form of Railroad Locomotives. There are certain economies of scale and size in this arena.

I look at the Volt's technology (not the political baggage) and see some things with promise. The costs are not low enough yet, etc, etc.

So, it sort of reminds me of the first few "Digital Personal Assistants" back in the 90's. Anyone remember the Apple Newton? It was laughable, but it was the kernel that led to the iPhone and all the other marketplace handheld computer-like devices.

My objections to the Volt lie largely with the Government subsidies, followed by the market objection of cost versus benefit.

Electric cars will need a breakthru in battery storage to get them to make the leap to commercial market acceptance. All the other engineering problems have pretty much been taken care of.

[nascarnation]

Locomotives use diesel electric because they have to drive all the wheels (steel on steel coefficient is quite low, in the range of .1)

A mechanical system to drive that many wheels is not practical/economical.

[jazusamo]

I agree, you stated it well.

The cost is too high for the average buyer. The subsidies and tax credits are outrageous and a huge breakthrough in battery tech is needed which may not be for a very long time if ever.

[InterceptPoint]

Electric cars will need a breakthrough in battery storage to get them to make the leap to commercial market acceptance.
++++++++++++++++++++++
But any such breakthrough doesn't appear to be in sight. If it actually is then it has fallen beneath my radar screen.

If there was a Moore's Law for battery technology it would be measured in centuries not months. It's the slowest moving technology on the planet.

[wbill]

Electric cars will need a breakthru in battery storage

Close, I'd say that the problem is with electric delivery, not storage. Though storage has issues, too.

Unless someone comes up with some sort of a battery swap-out....pull into a "Swap station", yank the old battery out of the car, and put in a new charged one ...

Otherwise, the conductors required to deliver a full charge of electricity to the battery in a "reasonable" (say <10 min) will be as thick as your thigh, and about as flexible. To say nothing of the variable load it would throw on the existing (overtaxed, underpowered) infrastructure.

Heck, places like California already deal with rolling blackouts due to lack of generation infrastructure. What happens when 20 million cars' worth of daily demand gets dumped on the grid? And increased demand drives up cost, which lowers ROI, and so on and so on.

Pure electric, isn't the answer. Not now, and for the forseeable (20-ish years?) future.