As we move forward, there little doubt that the internal combustion engine -- in its current form -- will eventually be phased out in favor of... something. It's already begun to take place in the millions of hybrids that are currently on the market and many believe that these vehicles are just a stepping stone towards the ultimate goal of a fully electrified machine. We're not quite ready to proclaim the ICE dead, but it's firm grasp on nearly 100% of the market seems likely to wane, and Larry Burns of General Motors knows it. GM is working feverishly on the Chevy Volt and the newly-christened Voltec powertrain that powers it and the Cadillac Converj concept, but there's no guaranteeing its success in the marketplace.

Burns has posted a plea to the American people to put their power behind American companies and their stake in the new-wave automobile, calling for "a partnership between the U.S. government, auto manufacturers and suppliers, the energy and infrastructure industries, and other key stakeholders focused on transforming the automobile." Before any real drastic change can take place, the U.S. government would need to sign off on specific technologies, an EV infrastructure would need to replace our current gasoline-fed economy and American citizens would need to buy the newfangled cars and trucks. So, American people, what say you?