GM, utilities join to study electric car impact

But the car will be priced anywhere from $30,000 to $40,000, far more expensive than most conventional cars.

The group, Gross said, likely will seek government tax incentives for buyers because of the benefits the car brings to society, such as lowered greenhouse gas emissions and reduced dependence on foreign oil.

"The price to the consumer has got to be affordable," she said.

Utilities, she said, can benefit from the cars because they will sell more electricity during off-peak hours when they have idle generating capacity.

But automakers and utilities will have to work out ways to decide how to stagger recharging so local substations do not become overloaded, Gross said.

The Volt likely will need about 8 kilowatt-hours of energy to recharge, Gross said. The average U.S. utility charges about 10 cents per kilowatt-hour, so it would cost the consumer about 80 cents to go the 40 miles, she said.