I heard today online that GM is cutting back on its "Volt" electric-car project, even to the point of laying off engineers. This, if true, is idiocy.
If GM is cutting back because fuel prices are down, they are idiots, because oil prices will come back with the economy.
If GM is doing it because they are short of cash, they are idiots because they should cut something else, as this and other technologies is what will save them (and us).
Frankly, we need to move away from oil for energy as much as humanly possible. (We also need to push harder on clean-coal technology.) I would rather give my money to an alternate-energy startup in New Mexico than some f**ktards who are trying to kill me all the time.
The consumer public has demonstrated time and again early adopters will accept "growing-pain" shortcomings in advanced technology (hell, that's Apple's business model) if the design philosophy is compelling and the product performs within the envelope of its competition.
As long as the Volt delivered on most of its promises at a reasonable price point, there will be those who would buy it for the statement, if nothing else. (I was in Los Gatos last week and there were so many hybrids around I thought a Prius was being raffled off each week by the town.)
GM is being penny-wise and pound-foolish if they truly decided to put the brakes on this project.