Who's resurrecting the electric car?

After being declared a guilty accomplice in the killing of the EV1, GM is seeking redemption in the new Volt. GM's leadership may have been heartened by the fact that it's nearest electric car competitor Tesla Motors finally turned a profit. The Automaker is declaring that the new electric vehicle will get 230 miles to the gallon. That claim is based on unproven technology. The first generation electric automobile is expected to cost $40,000 and is slated to roll into showrooms in November 2010 and will qualify for a $7,500 federal tax credit. GM is currently producing 10 a week at a plant in Warren, Mich, and has created around 30 of the cars, with pre-production models being tested in Yuma, Ariz. But Nissan is expecting to release its own electric car at about the same time but with a 357 mpg rating. The problem electric car manufacturers are confronting is urban commuters who lack plug-in capability. But if GM gets this right, it could go a long way to defibrillating the ailing auto industry and reduce Detroit's carbon footprint.