There were significant federal tax credits for hybrids up to a certain number per company. Apparently and conveniently you have forgotten that?

Sorry to put a little cold water on part of the hype, but the 186 mile range comes fron the VERY easy Japanese protocol and while still clearly better/longer than the Gen 1 iMIEV this new one is more like 125-130 mile on the US standard.

I am still "confused." Where are the actual driving impressions from "journalists?" This seems to be a rehash of much earlier BMW publicity.

What is new or based on Anthony's or any other journalist actual time behind the wheel?

I am trying to stay up on everything about these new BMW designs, and I, too, am still hoping to add an i3REX to my garage late this year. As I write this I am in Warsaw, Poland and I have not ruled out using my already approved press credentials to catch the action next week in Geneva.

Since this is a correlation, it requires that you have current data to predict the other variable, and it would seem that previous national sales would be as good or better than concurrent California sales? Or am I missing something?

That is, to predict sales nationally in X month, you have to have California sales for X month, so why is that better than using National sales for the month earlier or just getting the National sales at the same time as the California sales?

Further, since as you point out, California sales are generally 50% of the national total anyway, then California sales numbers are MOST of what is contained in the national total. Or, the data/approach is using "X to predict X."

I suspect that the buyers of the i3 are going to be even more upscale and tech aware. There is such clear evidence that EV design done "from the ground up" is so much more totally efficient than adapted ICE platforms. From my discussions with a wide range of EV followers (many not yet driving an EV), designs like the ActiveE are not fully appealing due to all the compromises involved. The still rumored starting price for the Cadillac ELR vs the BMW i3 could leave the BMW as THE choice for an upscale yet still rationally practical....EV.

Given that speculation is now suggesting a $60,000 entry level for the ELR, I cannot see this as having much of a positive impact AT ALL on the image of EVs/PHEVs as successful market products. I could accept a low to even mid-$50k base price and a well-equipped $60,000 "hit," but anything over that and I would just get a second generation Volt. I am seriously looking at the ELR, but it still has to have at least some economic "value" and at $60k I would just a second Model S with the smaller battery or even more likely the incoming BMW i3 which brings another level of new technology to the driving options. ELR models sitting on the showroom floor without getting quickly onto the streets is going to do NOTHING for either Cadillac or Evs.

I have recently posted to Chevy and Nissan to encourage them to send current Volt and Leaf drivers a complimentary "dash/windshield SUNSCREEN. This sunscreen could have appropriate signage that highlights that this is an electric driven vehicle..that the driver is MOST proud of and willing to share their experiences about. Such "first person" testimonials and on the direct basis have been shown to be HIGHLY effective in generating attitude change for new products, but have Nissan or Chevy actually picked up on this suggestion?

Of course not. Just more of the "same old, same old" from their marketing people EVEN when their own studies have shown that grass-roots contacts are more persuasive than mass media adverts.

Points 5,6, and 7 are really, IMHO, major. Here in "sunny Sacramento," we keep finding the vast majority of other drivers simply do not understand their choices in EVs and PHEVs or even HOW these new options can function FOR them. Sadly "ignorance is bliss" seems to be all too common relative to our environment and WHAT individuals can do to lessen our collective negative impact.

And home "cooked cocaine" has a domestic quality, but that doesn't argue for it's use.....or "homegrown pot" either.

We should be asking "what is best for the environment and trying to move, as much as we can, individually, afford in that direction. Don't you think?

No surprise here. After 22,000 miles with Volt VIN #679, we are at 106 mpg overall and both my wife and I put this on equal in driving pleasure with our previous Acura, Infiniti, Lexus, Audi, and BMW experiences. Heck I have MORE fun driving the Volt than my earlier Porsche (albeit that was a 924).