Let's do some basic math. GM targets 500,000 cars sold by the end of 2017. From that wording, this implies a cumulative sales, not annual. However, they also say they want to sell 100,000s of eAssist annually by that time (note the plural). If they sell 100,000 through 2016, 200,000 in 2017, that's 300,000 of the 500,000 cars. My guess is that they're planning on much more of that 500,000 to come from eAssist. Doesn't sound to me like they are pushing the plug at all. Let's hope I'm wrong. Maybe they have a trick up their sleeves that we'll see at NAIAS?

Because of the controversy over the EV1 some people forget that GM has more experience building EVs than anyone else, including Nissan and Tesla. The Volt contains some bits of DNA from the EV1 such as the T-shaped battery pack. In the US market the Volt is outselling every other plug-in vehicle COMBINED. GM might not be your favorite automotive manufacturer but they are certainly not amateurs.

@Bill Howland,

Marketing people are SUPPOSED to brag about their products. IT'S THEIR JOB!!

I think GM does have some bragging rights, though. From a GM press release:

"Like the battery system used in the Chevrolet Volt, the Spark EV’s battery uses an active liquid cooling and heating system, which ensures improved reliability over the life of the vehicle, while providing year-round performance in all climates."

Doubt if we're going to see a 120 mile range on the first iteration of the Spark EV, ilectric.
But a respectable 80 miles of normal driving should occur with a 20kW pack.

When I got to poke my head underneath the rear end of a gasoline-powered Spark last month, I was pleasantly surprised to note a cavernous amount of space under there with a tiny gas tank seemingly floating in space. The hope is that there won't be much need to take away any cargo space with the EV version.

Hard to tell from the above photo if the checkered area is one of those fabric "bras" or not. But anything to de-emphasize the Mack Truck grill of the current Spark is a welcomed addition.

Now . . . let's see if something can be done about those praying mantis headlight pods . . .

Anon. says . . .

"Just what does GM have to do for you guys to give them any credit for what they are doing to lay a foundation for an enduring EV market segment?"

Well, actually make and sell them, for one thing. The Spark EV isn't here yet and has no set price. It's almost a given that it will be a California-only compliance car at first, with no announced time line as to when it will be available elsewhere.

The Volt is sweet (I got to live with one for a couple weeks) but isn't a pure EV. I wish Chevy would simple offer a straight electric version of it or market an all-electric Cruze . . . which is something that already exists, at least in prototype form . . .

http://techcrunch.com/2010/09/20/the-chevy-cruze-ev-with-its-100-mile-ra...

I also wouldn't exactly call the Leaf "sloppy," even though there were hot weather battery issues that are now being addressed. I had a similar "live with" experience with one and found it to be well built with excellent city driving performance.

Earlier today, I got to take a seat inside a Mitsubishi i, which is the first one to arrive in our town. Nice little car . . . unfortunately, the driver's seat wouldn't go back far enough to allow my 6'3" frame to stretch comfortably and this would be a real issue with me.

We all want to see the Spark EV generally available, Anon. But none of us are holding our breath until it actually happens.

@Benjamin Nead

Interesting info in your link. I always thought the Chevy Cruze EV WAS the Chevy Volt, hehe.