Chevy Volt Battery Problems - Who Killed The Electric Car II

GM Offers To Buy Back Chevy Volt From Customers Fearful About The Battery

Right next to the book "Diary Of An Economic Hitman" there sits a VHS video tape of the documentary film by left-wing muckraking investigative journalist Greg Palast called "Who Killed The Electric Car?"

As the story goes the GM "EV1" electric car was released by GM on a limited basis.  Upon receiving pressure from oil companies and other nefarious forces - GM - which leased the car to those who used it - took them all back and crushed them - thus destroying them all.

The documentary shows several owners of the EV1 that loved the car and were dumbfounded as to why GM was motivated to take it away.

This remains as one of the key conspiracy theories of the Progressive-Fundamenatalists.

What Mr Palast failed to detail is that BATTERY PROBLEMS were the root of the decision to pull the plug on the EV1. 

This all electric car that was sufficient to get a commuter to and from work on a single charge worked well initially.  As everyone who owns a laptop computer will attest to - over time that battery's sustainable power atrophies over time.   That fully charged battery that used to get you to work and back began to drain a few blocks from the owner's house on the way home, running up towing bills and consumer complaints.

The EV1 and The Volt

The present fate of the Volt proves to be very interesting.

Of course the original manufacture is ultimately liable for the performance of their product and - perish the thought - if it sparks a fire that spreads to the owners house.
It stands to reason that more "activist minded" individuals would tend to be first in line to "eat their own dog food", purchasing the electric car as a means of aligning their "Say No To Oil" disposition.

These "bleeding edge consumers" also get to "enjoy" the bugs that will be worked out as the pump is primed and the sales from previous units funds the research of the future units.  

When given the choice of "digesting the loss" for the kinks or holding the manufacturer liable - clearly the latter is the case.

With this in mind GM has the fiduciary responsibility to limit its exposure to liability by closely regulating what it puts and leaves on the market.   If the EV1 or the Volt proves to be a risk greater than its worth then indeed GM should do what is in its best interests - regardless of the violation of political correctness.