new electric cars help automakers meet California's emissions rules

Toyota's RAV4 EV

Generally speaking, Americans aren't fans of small cars, particularly ones which have a limited range before they need a fuel stop.  But they should surely have a ready market elsewhere in the world.

from USA Today:-

LOS ANGELES -- Automakers are in the uncomfortable position of building mostly at a loss a class of small electric cars that garner a lot of attention but few sales just to satisfy rules imposed by one state, California.
As a result, they've acquired the name "compliance cars."
They include electric versions of such familiar models as the Chevrolet Spark, Honda Fit and Toyota RAV4.
Most are being produced primarily or solely to meet California's mandate that large automakers sell a percentage of zero-emission cars in order to sell traditional cars in the state. Hybrids and natural gas cars aren't considered good enough, and hydrogen fuel-cell cars are still a way off, so battery cars are the quickest way to comply.

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