Exactly, Americans DON'T want small hatchbacks/cars, they want SUVs and Pickups. Why are mfgs. so surprised when they make vehicles that people don't want, and they don't sell :roll: Sure there are people like us that will buy a BEV just because it's a BEV, but JSP won't! When you consider all the other inconveniences with BEVs(limited range, lack of charging infrastructure, etc.) it's no doubt even if they are giving away leases of BEVs in CA(something I don't really believe but with facts could be convinced) most people just don't want small cars.
IMO instead of trying to make a 200 or even 300 mile small car, they should use that same 60kw battery and stick it in a BE-SUV or even pickup, give the people what they want! Sure the range may only be 100-150 miles but at least it will be a vehicle people want. Many of us have been waiting for Mitsubishi to finally bring their PHEV Outlander to N. America, but many years later still nothing :x even though the same vehicle is(or least last time I looked) the #1 selling EV/PHEV in Europe, again a vehicle style people want. And note this even with it's anemic 20 something mile EV range. If Chevy can produce the extremely cramped Volt, why can't they do something similar to a larger vehicle :?
Oh BTW Europe has had the "displacement tax" for years, seems to work well enough, that and IMO some sort of weight-based tax like they do on commercial trucks. The weight of a vehicle is probably the #1 thing that deteriorates our roads, why should a vehicle that weighs 2x the weight of another pay the same tax, even though they are harder on the roads. I'm not sure if I'm for it or not, mainly because of my belief it would be a record keeping nightmare and ripe for cheating, but my state is considering a Republican-backed mileage-based fee for driving. I'd probably come out OK as I don't drive all that much 7-8k/year but others would probably be in for a rude awakening. Of course the Republican plan doesn't want to have anything to do with basing the tax on weight or displacement, after all that would affect businesses and drivers of large luxury vehicles......follow the money