http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1669723_1669725,00.html

The online version (above link) also has a history of electric cars… 1st one is from 1903 that had a range that may sound familiar… 40 miles on a charge.

In the mid-1990′s and early 2000′s there was more than just GM’s EV1, though that was obviously the most famous thanks to the film “Who Killed the Electic Car?” that focused on the EV1. Toyota for example had the Rav4-EV, some of which are still on the road today (the rest were crushed/destroyed by Toyota like GM did with all the EV1′s), with a max range of 125 miles per charge (compared to 140 miles for the 2nd generation EV1, but obviously a Rav4-EV is bigger and less aerodynamic than the EV1 was).

But yes, GM if it stays on target appears it will be the 1st to the US market with a mass produced plug-in series hybrid EV. Volvo may not be far behind with it’s “ReCharge Concept” C30 with a 62 mile range on a charge before the generator comes on (and it has 4 hub motors for real AWD) but I’ve heard no dates for that (and my guess won’t his US showrooms until after it’s been out in Europe 1st).

The car is actually priced in Yen as it will only be available in China. As such the $19,000 is relatively meaningless, you have to compare apples to apples… ie. the price of the BYD to other similiar sized vehicles for sale in China. Also don’t forget that China has fixed their currency so Yen to $ prices are artificially low.

Also different road safety standards… to bring it to US requirements will also raise the price should they want to bring it to the US market. Which I think is unlikely, The Chinese will probably consume everything they can produce.