[ref http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/Chevy-Bolt-named-top-car-in-N-America-tp4685382p4685412.html ]
That post and its responses are really about what 'we each' think what a 'compliance car' is. I had this thought over a week ago when a news item tried to say the Bolt was not a compliance car based on how many EVs GM 'had to' produce vs how many more GM said they were going to make. I know this topic could open a 'can of worms', but I think the definition of compliance car needs to be re-evaluated. What was a compliance car in the 1990's and 2000's, is much different than today. A week ago I did a simple search: https://www.google.com/search?q=definition+compliance+car It shows there are a lot of different opinions out there. Some by those that would always like there automaker company to be in the best light, by others that actually would be driving those EVs for the next 6+ years. Not unlike so many automakers, part of GM's advertising budget is to use the press to manipulate public opinion. GM know's that what was said previously, can be easily reversed as they believe the public has a 'short memory' and that they, GM, 'know what is best' (not the buying public). The search https://www.google.com/search?q=bolt+electric+compliance+car shows how upset the media was with GM's announcement that they will only sell to CA and OR first. Those are two states GM wants mandate credits so as to sell ice. That shift from telling the public Gm was going to sell the BOLT to everyone before the Bolt went into production, and doing an about-face (changing the sales rules) when the Bolt did go into production to favor GM's needs (not the consumer's), smells of compliance car, and does not bode well for how much the consumer feels GM will have their back (care about the consumer). Yet, as I have posted, GM can be manipulated to free some Bolt EVs up for Donald's buddies, and to any other region that is beneficial to GM (Bolts to NYC, +more). I posted a news item that stated that Canadians could register to buy a Bolt EV, but actual deliveries to Canadians would be much later. I have to let you all know, that there were many GM -pr- noise items I passed on (did not post to the evdl), that were only GM investment promotional, but later were found to be a (non-committal) commitment to produce 200+mi Bolt EVs. This was much the same with the European version of the Bolt: Opel Ampera-e. Now that the Bolt is in production, GM feels happier holding back on its Bolt EV sales, than satisfying consumer demand (another point defining a compliance car). IMO as a future production EV buyer is, what defines a compliance car has several dependencies (there will be several things to look at & to decide on). Not what items are important to an automaker, but what items are important to the EV owner& driver. Much has changed since 2010, but for a long time, the Fiat 500e, Ford Focus Electric, GM's Chevy Spark EV, Smart ED, and several other EVs, were a product that could be leased or purchased, but with only a minimal effort put into the EV's use, or upgrades each year by the manufacturer (i.e.: it isn't until now that Ford's next-gen Focus EV will offer L3 DC charging, etc.). Upgrades that the production EV leaders (i.e.: Leaf, etc.) were already offering. So, a compliance car does not make an effort to keep up with the competition, akin (like) what is done with ice sales. Now that Spark EV is set to end production because the Bolt EV is its replacement, where does that leave Spark EV owners? How long will their GM support last, and will the cost of that support go up over time as dealers may consider Spark EV an out-of-date antique. Buying a production EV meant you were locked into no support if you made upgrades yourself. Anyone buying a used 2012 Leaf with only a L2-3kW on-board charger and no L3 DC port means you are stuck (no upgrades possible). If the upgrades the consumer wants is not offered in next year's model (like what the i-Miev did, same product year year), the consumer is stuck between a rock and an hard place to get an EV that fits their needs (Today, if you can not afford a Tesla, then a Leaf is your only up-to-date production EV choice). Time will tell how many GM Bolt EVs are produced and sold to the public year after year (that excludes the ones made and sold to Lyft). And 'if' GM does regular updates to each year's model (same as they do for their ice models). Perhaps that is a stumbling point the media does not see nor dwell on: automakers go out of their way to offer an 'improved' model for next year as an incentive to encourage sales. Automakers with a compliance car do not offer such annual improvements. ? So, how do you define 'compliance car' ? For EVLN EV-newswire posts use: http://evdl.org/evln/ {brucedp.neocities.org} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/What-is-a-compliance-car-Bolt-named-top-car-tp4685422.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org Read EVAngel's EV News at http://evdl.org/evln/ Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
