Surplus EV batteries??
 

Short-Circuit in Electric Car Plans - WSJ.com

It's starting to look like we might have a few sources of hi-tech EV packs showing up on Ebay within the next year or so..

Consider the source, though. The WSJ is not noted for its accuracy on anything to do with tech.

There's also a chicken & egg problem here: automakers can't build reasonably priced EVs or PHEVs until they can buy reasonably priced batteries, but the battery makers can't ramp up to economical production levels until the automakers start building lots of EVs & PHEVs.

Though I did see an article recently saying that Tesla is going to start shipping its Model S in June. You can't buy one, though, as 2012 production is already pre-sold.

Well, A123 is making packs right now.. If they go under, maybe the left-over parts will be sold off..?.
If that happens, some DIY EV builders might benefit..

AONE Basic Chart | A123 Systems, Inc. Stock - Yahoo! Finance

They compare the batteries to a gasoline car's engine being built without a car to put it in, but batteries are closer to being a raw material, granted they are very refined, but they are a part that multiple automakers can source the same battery or switch from one manufacturer, just like they might have multiple sources for steel, glass or tires, but if you don't have a source for tires it's hard to build and sell a car.
The batteries are also one of the parts that automakers have a hard time building on their own, because like steel and glass, it takes a great deal of skill and investment to make them.

Not to mention that you can put the "engines" in lots of different things. Used my battery powered lawnmower last night, the battery powered weed whacker this morning, the battery powered cordless drill, the cell phone... And I'm writing this on a laptop which can run off the battery, even though it happens to be plugged in right now.

Many auto batteries are more complex to charge than the more forgiving LIFE style but not impossible, BMS would still be a pain and the voltage is almost always wrong for an everyday ev.

Still I wouldn't mind a free volt or leaf battery.

Think you missed my point, which is that if company X can build batteries for EVs, they can also build & sell batteries for all sorts of other applications.

Also most battery companies don't make BMS's or chargers, they just make the batteries, some of the factories don't even make the case for the battery pouches!

I know a guy that works at a local battery maker, been trying to get him to give me some 'test' cells, that I can experiment on. No luck so far..