Today we learn the General Motors only has enough cash to stay in business through January or February 2009.  Their only chance for survival is government guaranteed access to money (of course, that means we the people are providing the guaranty).

http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN1153876820081111

GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz was scheduled to attend the LA (Auto) show to make an announcement about the company’s development of the all-electric Chevrolet Volt. -Reuters

So the first casualty of the cash crisis at GM will be the much ballyhooed technological wonder, the Chevrolet Volt.  From gas friendly to gas free?  Not too likely.

The reason we aren’t driving Chevrolet Volts (or advanced EV1 s, GM’s first electric car) is because we needed to develop advanced lithium ion batteries.  Endependence says BUNK!

Who Killed the Electric Car the first time?  Here is the trailer from the movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGG4rNMuMac

There is no mystery about who killed GM’s electric car this time.  They never intended to build it in the first place.

Why did GM need breakthrough lithium ion battery technology for the Chevy Volt when they already had proven that lead acid batteries would work quite well with the EV1 project?  Because they had to build a $40,000.00 electric car that would require $7,500.00 in tax credits to even get in the neighborhood of affordability.

There are electric cars that you can buy right now that cost less than $14,000.00 out the door.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq_a1uyHHxQ

These cars didn’t and don’t need breakthrough technology.

Waiting for breakthrough technology is a way for business to delay needed action.  A lithium ion battery for electric cars, clean coal technology,  coal liquifaction with carbon sequestration - the breakthroughs we need to move to energy independence?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/29/AR2008022903390.html

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/11/9/1201/93022/473/657536

Again, endependence says, BUNK!!