Do green leaders drive electric cars?

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[hide][top]If EV advocates won't step up to the plate, who will? I admit I don't own one yet, and many other green writers are in the same boat. Read on, and see who's a member of the club and who isn't.

http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/transp...-electric-cars

I like that Jim did this. In my travels and here there is extreme pressure to buy a Model S even though it is not a car that works for our family. Not that a Roadster is a family car but we draw the limit at one useless vehicle. It's a hoot so it will tide us over till the GenBlue delivers.

So do you know anyone who advocates EVs but is waiting for the right one for whatever reason?

[daniel]

There are not a lot of EVs available, and right now your choices are either too expensive for most people, or too short-range to be the car for a one-car household. A person can legitimately advocate for EVs before there is one available that works for them. And of course, there are greener alternatives than an EV. A bicycle, for example. I have friends who ride bikes daily. When I visited them, they rented a car so we could go to cool restaurants. Public transportation is also greener than a personal car. A person who does not own a car at all could advocate for EVs for people who need a car.

OTOH, a person who drives an unnecessarily dirty or inefficient car, but advocates for EVs, would be a hypocrite. But I've never encountered such a person.

One would expect a green leader to model a green lifestyle. But that does not mean they should necessarily own a car that might not meet their needs, just because it's electric. If they do drive a car, and if they can afford an EV that has the capabilities they need, then they should be driving an EV. The ifs are relevant.

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Surprised Chelsea was not mentioned.

[Dan5]

I'm one who advocates EVs, but currently besides the Roadster (is not comfortable for my daily commute) none of the current offerings meet my daily driving needs. The Model S does meet my needs + you can fit kids in it.

[SByer]

Besides, replacing a car, unless it was going to happen anyway, isn't a 'green' thing to do.

In three years, the landscape will be very different. There will stil be range issues, but at least there will be family friendly models - though probably still at 'shocking' prices (to those that don't do TCOs).