Current events aside, there's really only one thing that matters here: For John Q. Public, the bits and pieces under the Volt's hood don't matter. They don't matter for any hybrid or electric vehicle.

The Volt controversy, if you haven't been following it, comes down to one question: Is the Volt, as General Motors says, an electric vehicle, or is it a plug-in hybrid, a car that relies on two power sources for motivation? Ultimately, this sort of thing is best decided by the Society of Automotive Engineers, that international arbiter of automotive standards and the central source for all car-related technical definitions. Until then, we're going to go out on a limb and suggest that, media attention aside, America won't care.

The knee-jerk follow-up to that statement is that people will focus on mileage, not mechanicals, when buying a car. It makes sense, and there's no disputing the appeal of a car that, as Motor Trend saw with the Volt, achieves triple-digit fuel mileage. Unfortunately, it's not true.

According to a study released this year by Accenture, most people won't consider a hybrid until it, like any other car, represents an all-round appealing package. Six out of 10 consumers, the study says, are "more likely to buy a hybrid or electric vehicle only when it is superior to gasoline-only models in every way." The relatively small percentage of hybrids and EVs on the road backs this up: The technology required for mass adoption simply isn't there yet. Judging by sales results, the masses won't buy into alternative-powertrain vehicles until they cease to represent a downgrade from their current car; they can't be slower or less comfortable or offer any trade-offs for the increase in economy.

Simply put, this means that what's under the hood doesn't matter. The Volt is an impressive car, but for ordinary consumers, it's less practical, roomy and cost-effective than a base Toyota Camry. Discussions about the details of its powertrain are pretty much irrelevant.

Nevertheless, the Volt remains a huge step forward. Even the most critical early reviews of the Volt have revealed that with a full charge, the sedan can travel more than 20 miles at highway speeds without starting its gasoline engine. That’s huge news for plenty of commuters, and at the end of the day, that kind of gasoline-free driving is going to have a huge, positive impact on both people’s budgets and the environment.

What we’re really seeing with the recent press frenzy are some of the growing pains associated with the integration of electric vehicles into our transportation system. Those pains will pass, but for the moment, the Volt remains a surprisingly advanced answer to our current fuel-economy and environmental concerns. No matter what you call it.