When the EV-1 was scrubbed, GM burned a bridge they can't rebuild.
President Barack Obama's auto task force last week said in an assessment of General Motors' viability that it was a full generation behind Toyota in "green powertrain development" and that "while the Volt holds promise, it is currently projected to be much more expensive than its gasoline-fueled peers and will likely need substantial reductions in manufacturing cost in order to become commercially viable."
A White House official who worked on the assessment said ...it will be a challenge to bring the new technology up to scale and make it cost competitive.
GM reported in its five-year restructuring plan that it's investing in hybrid and plug-in cars and trucks, including the Volt and two other models that will use its technology.
...the company expects state and federal incentives will help boost demand for the Volt, particularly a $7,500 federal tax credit. The Volt is expected to sell for around $40,000 because of the high cost of its batteries.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/65761.htmlDespite the media hoopla surrounding the car often billed as the future of the auto industry, the government's analysis of the vehicle couldn't overlook the fact that the Volt "is currently projected to be much more expensive than its gasoline-fueled peers and will likely need substantial reductions in manufacturing cost in order to become commercially viable."
The government analysis of the car echoes a recent study conducted at Carnegie Mellon University which also concluded that the design concept behind the Volt is "not cost effective in any scenario."
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,511803,00.html