recovery act, you guys are the first american factory to start high volume production of advanced vehicle batteries. i met with david and some of the a123 team here in the white house back in april, and it's incredibly exciting to see ho*uf you guys have come since we announced these grants just over a year ago. >> reporter: despite hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer support it did little for a123, which today announced it is indeed filing for bankruptcy protection. the bottom line is gas prices that are knocking on $4 a gallon electric car sales are dismal, little interest in the chevy volt or the fiska carma whose batteries are made by a123. >> they are all disappointing sales. consumers aren't interested. >> reporter: we've asked the white house for a comment on the bankruptcy. no response.