Oh I have been ready for the CDI from the start! However, in the southern states, the MHD hybrid drive is simply not practical. Northern states have weather similar to Europe where refrigeration is not horribly necessary. In the south, having the air conditioning go away everytime you drop below 5 mph because the engine is shut off is not desirable. Who wants to arrive at their destination looking like a wilted Wheatie flake? When it's between 90 & 110 degrees F, you need continuous air conditioning!
The Honda Insight did much the same thing, shutting down at traffic lights. But there was a defeat mode, which was in continuous use in the south, at least in the hotter months. Defeated much of the benefit.
Also, with the severe cost of doing the federalization of a drive system, one needs to plan. Why spend all that money when you can't keep the product on the shelves? Better to wait for interest to wane before introducing a new engine to pique interest in a product? More shelf life. That's how marketing and product planning works.
I would suspect that the CDI will be next. The MHD would only have appeal in Canada and the more northern states. Couldn't give that puppy away in the south.
Is it financially feasible to do the whole schebang on certifiction for versions that would only sell to part of the USA? Not knowing the entire financial structure of this venture, I couldn't say. Only time will tell. God knows the start-up costs of establishing the dealer network was considerable!
Woody Richey
Today
Linear Mode
