GM: Not Making Hybrid a 'Mistake'

"There are people that doubt our intentions. The only way to prove to them that we're serious is to let them watch us stumble every now and then as well," Peterson said.

GM has been criticized for the handling of the EV1, the company's first electric car released in 1996. The EV1 was later recalled and reportedly required an intensive interview process that some have described as discouraging.

More recently, Lutz came under fire for telling reporters last month that "global warming is a crock of s--." GM's CEO Rick Wagoner later said that the comments were not reflective of the company's position.

"Going out in public is exactly what we said we would do," Peterson said. "It's a risk."

At the show, at least 50 people, in addition to 100 seated audience members, lined up to ask questions about the pricing, design and technology of the Volt. Fans traveled from as far as California to attend.

Larry Geguzis, a 59-year-old retired child therapist and GM-Volt.com devotee, made the 4½-hour drive from his home in central Pennsylvania just to hear what Lutz and other executives had to say.

Geguzis first became interested in green automobile technology after he retired.

"With the price of gas going up, it just eats into disposable income," he said. "I just get goose bumps when I think about 40 miles at highway speed in that nice, quiet gasoline-free ride."

Although Geguzis hopes to see the Volt on the road by the end of 2010 as promised by GM executives, he says that he's frustrated more fuel-efficient vehicles aren't on the road now.

"Don't let perfect be the enemy of good enough," he said. "Come 2010 there will be several companies coming out competing with the Volt. The thing that I will be looking at the most is: Which one can I drive totally petroleum free? ... That's really the omega for me."

Former NASA engineer Phil Toney, another active GM-Volt member who goes by Nasaman on the site, flew to New York just for the event from his home in DeBary, Fla.