OK. Here’s my take, STRICTLY from a Marketing/Retail angle - because that’s my ‘Wheelhouse.’ ;)
WHY did the big manufacturers not say NO to having Mother Government foist EVs on them?
Why did they not promote the ever-loving HECK out of Hybrids that were half EV/half ICE? I don’t remember that happening, do you? I mean, I KNEW they were available, even knew a few people that bought one, but wouldn’t it make more SENSE to get the Consumer interested in a hybrid FIRST - and then IF (BIG IF!) EVERYONE wanted one - AND YOU HAD THE RECHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE - THEN you invest BILLIONS in these golf carts?
I do not understand who was in charge and why all of this time and effort was WASTED for something Joe Lunch Bucket neither WANTS, NOR CAN AFFORD!
So many stupid, STUPID, expensive mistakes have been made.
The WHIMS of Mother Government never cease to amaze and baffle me!
I can tell you why the manufacturers don’t say no. I tried to market my engineering services to military supply companies during a downturn when they were laying off staff. Clinton was president. I told a purchasing agent, “Here’s your contract. Here’s the services I can do for you at a fraction of your current costs.” He pulled out a letter that had been sent to the company brass. It was from the IRS. It said, essentially, that if they subcontracted their deliverables for any government contract the IRS would sue them and impound their bank accounts. It was couched in diplomatic vagueness, but the meaning was clear. The Clinton administration did not want blanket layoffs in the contracts where they could prevent it from happening because it was political poison. I told the purchasing agent that the IRS would have no cause of action, and they’d win in court. He said that if the IRS seized their accounts they’d be out of business in a week.
Companies do what the government wants because the government says, essentially, “Geez. Dat’s a nice business youse got there. Shame if something should happen to it.”