Government Motors (formerly known as General Motors or "GM") made an incredible and breathless announcement this week. The soon-in-production Chevy Volt electric vehicle would get an EPA-rated 230 miles to the gallon in city driving.

Now, for anyone who's paid even passing attention to MPG figures over the years, this is truly an astounding number. I can't recall ever seeing a rating above 60 before, although the highest ratings were reserved for cars like the Volt - the boxy, tin-can, looks-like-a-golf-cart style of automobile you don't want to be in when an SUV (or Harley for that matter) broadsides you.

Now, it appears, that Government Motors may have just made up the MPG figure they announced for the Volt. Not only has the EPA not officially tested the Volt's miles-per-gallon, the agency doesn't even have a reliable formula ready with which to test cars like the Volt.

One thing's for sure, GM has quickly adapted to one of the essential functions of being a government agency - fudging the facts.