It's just price and availability right now.
For the electric car, it's the first day, very few models rolling out the factory doors, and most models promised for rollout within the next twelve months.
GM's Chevy Volt has received a commitment for a 2010 rollout by GM CEO Bob Lutz, who calls the plucky little coupe their "moon shot".
The Volt is expected to cost what an average upper middle class minivan costs, around 25 to 30 thousand.
The Tesla Roadster, handmade to order, and with a near 100 thousand dollar price tag, is available now if you take a number and get in line.
But the reason it costs as much as it does is threefold:
Performance: zero to sixty in three seconds
Looks: It would make a Lamborghini slit its wrists
Range: 250 miles on all electric
Take away any TWO of the above and you'd probably see a price tag closer to the Volt.
There are several other models scheduled for a release in the next year, with more down to earth sticker price and somewhat less than earthshattering specs, but just remember that if it can
get around fifty miles on battery alone, get on the freeway without getting rear-ended and costs about the same as a regular car it's going to be a success as long as the electrical system is reliable.
The Japanese carmakers have already decided that they're committed to getting an electric to market, but GM seems to be alone on the American side for now, making their campaign more and more like a real "space race".
If we're first, it means a lot for America.
Of course it will also mean a lot if the cars actually perform as promised...the Chevy Volt has been in testing stages for well over four years now.
