The Chevy Volt is an experiment that has failed badly. GM would have been better served by bringing back the EV-1 vehicle they had made for a market survey. The first EV-1 models had a lead-acid battery, later models had a NiMH battery set, with higher energy content, and longer range (100 miles, up to 140 miles). If the Volts used even the battery system from the EV-1, they would be in far better position and have plainly superior usability, but apparently somebody else has the patents on the battery system.
But GM was never that enthusiastic about this technology at the time, and it sort of died on the vine.
The vehicle has to able to stand on its own without taxpayer subsidies to be successful and it just isn't here yet.
CEO Akerson learned his craft (lying and hyping) as a senior executive at MCI Communication which morphed into (and died as) Worldcom.
True, but the experiment was run back in the gaslight era (circa 1880) as the Baker Electric. The Baker had nearly identical range, speed, and proportional price and sold moderately well to little old ladies from Gramercy Park. The Baker lost out in competition with internal combustion powered cars on just about all figures of merit except noise level of the propulsion system.
All electric cars will not become "everyday" transportation until the power density of battery systems has improved enough to provide equivalent range and speed to gasoline/diesel powered cars. Hybrids performance will continue to pace improvements in battery technology and may altogether replace conventional combustion only autos if prices can be brought into line (economies of scale through mass production).
Regards,
GtG