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I am trying to find out how electric cars could be more desirable to own and what are peoples views on the future of electric cars?

What things would you like to see in an electric car to become desirable?

What would you use a electric car for?
E.g. commuting short distances, general use, being green......

Do you think they could be used in racing or on track days in the future?  

There's one thing I would require from an electric car: I don't want to sacrifice anything in the switch from a gasoline powered car to an electric one.

That means two things, really... I want the same 0-60 times, handling, braking power, etc. as a comparable gasoline powered car, and I don't want to have to install some elaborate station in my garage to charge it.

I think if/when electric cars don't require people to sacrifice anything or make concessions to own them, they'll come into their own.

As for myself, I'd use it as a daily commuter - I live about 20 miles from work.  I think a big concern will probably be the range.  Ford's upcoming Focus-based EV, with a 100-mile range, hits a sweet spot, I think.  The 40 miles in the Volt is definitely not enough for me.  

But the Volt has a range-extender (aka gasoline engine) that will charge the battery while you are driving past the 40 mile mark. So it would be possible for you to run to work, the mall/grocery store, and back home, even if that means 60 miles.

For me, I need the option of burning some type of fuel in the car to charge the batteries on the go. Most days I drive nearly 100 miles and I don't ever want to be in a situation where I need my car, but it's out of juice. A purely electric car probably won't work for me in the foreseeable future.  

As you noted, I think the "40 miles" issue is going to have to be carefully managed and actively explained by GM PR. The fact of the matter is the Volt will be capable of 300 miles per tank, give or take, about the same as a conventional vehicle, just that 40 miles of that will be gasoline-free.

In terms of what I'd want in an electric car...Absolutely must be fun-to-drive. Electrics definitely have this potential, thanks to the instantaneous torque output inherent to electric motors. Reasonable Range - I'd say 100 miles per full charge should be the baseline for pure EVs. And affordability will be key. As cool as the Tesla Roadster is, the price is absolutely out-of-reach for the majority of Americans. I think educated consumers will be willing to pay a modest premium initially for an electric, but double or triple the price of an equivalent gas-powered model will be a deal-killer.

In terms of racing, there's already an electric drag-racing league, NEDRA.

Just my $0.02 worth.    

The Volt's gas generator kicks in when the battery goes flat.

Volt isn't pure EV.  It's a 'range extended' EV with an on-board gas generator to charge the battery.  You plug in at night, and if that's enough juice (40-50miles worth), then you never use any gasoline.  Take a trip and you have the generator.

It's also called a serial hybrid vs. the parallel type (Prius), where both engines work together to turn wheels.  The generator in the Volt only charges the battery.

Full EV still has a lot of problems: charge time, quantity/weight of batteries, cost, etc.

As it is, the Volt will probably cost $15k more than a conventional gas car to produce.  That's really the problem with PHEVs.  Otherwise, it should do pretty much what a Malibu does.  
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Graduate, Rodan School of Automotive Design

Winter capability. I have driven Toyota Prius rentals at -25 Celsius and they take 1/2 hr to warm up inside, the front windshield takes just as long to defrost. The transmission doesn't know what to do when the tires slip on ice and it handles like a pig, with serious understeer. Ok, it handles like a pig on dry roads, too.

I don't know if the heat problem can be corrected when the gas engine is so small but there must be a way.