Chevy Volts flying off the lots

The reviews aren't great are only mixed, but demand is vastly outstripping supply for GM's electric car. Of course, it's all relative: As of late last month, only 982 Volts had been sold, with the automaker expecting 10,000 cars to be made in 2011. That's created quite a backlog - the GM folks say that you could order a Volt today for delivery in September. Meantime, local dealerships are offering test drives with demo cars (L.A. is one of the areas where GM has focused its marketing efforts). From CNNMoney:

For now, sales of these cars are limited by how fast the automakers can produce them and get them to dealers. "Right now we're selling every one we can make," GM spokesman Tom Wilkinson said, "so as shipments rise we expect sales to rise as well." It will be impossible to gauge consumer acceptance of either car until at least later this year, said Jesse Toprak, a sales analyst with the automotive Web site Truecar.com. "From a numbers perspective, we've got to wait until at least six months into full production," Toprak said. After that, it may be months more before it's possible to tell whether ordinary car buyers, not just people interested in having the latest technology, want these cars.

Another imponderable is the price of gasoline, and whether consumers will be more willing to try the fuel-efficient car.