Plans now call for the car to be available by the end of the decade. Now there's word that the car’s expected price has risen from $30,000 to about $35,000. Why? Because the battery's pulling double-duty as both engine and power source for "redundant features" like windshield wipers and audio system. GM has no time to develop more energy-efficient features and will have to rely on current system, increasing the Volt's price to near luxury levels. Pundits believe that major subsidies will also be needed to keep it competitive with hybrids like the Toyota Prius.