What do some of the world’s most famous people like George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio etc have in common apart from being good actors and eye candy for the opposite sex? Answer they all drive an EV car. Its not just the men in Hollywood the EV cars are also favoured by a number of women in Hollywood too. Celebrities like Eva Longoria, Will Smith, Cameron Diaz, Demi Moore, and dozens of others all drive an EV car. Music royalty Jay Z drives one as to new entrants on the scene like Justin Bieber and Jaden Smith. Due to Tesla’s diligent efforts over the past decade, EVs are now accessible to the common motorist and are no longer deemed “unique” or “odd” As a result of their exceptional performance (and good appearance), EVs have become both desirable and desirable.
Some social activists theorise that celebrity endorsement is one of the most effective ways to draw attention to social problems, despite the fact that celebrity activism is frequently associated with a pejorative connotation. Twitter cries “woke” whenever awareness seems to have emerged out of thin air. There is no doubt that these celebrities have played a significant part in raising awareness about the benefits of electric vehicles. By far the most popular car in Hollywood is the Tesla S. While some celebrities may still own gas-guzzlers, they have created a market for electric vehicles. In addition, recent attempts by brands such as Audi, Jaguar, Bugatti, Lotus, Porsche and Ferrari could assist convince premium brand aficionados to convert.
What explains the popularity of EV cars, and why are more and more people looking at them? The environment has a huge role to play. Stars like Leonardo DiCaprio, dubbed “the greenest guy in Hollywood,” actively espouse the need to protect the environment. The vehicle industry is responsible for both air pollution and carbon emissions, two major environmental concerns. They have direct and indirect effects on all of us in terms of air pollution, climate change, and global warming. With no toxic emissions and no engine noise, air and noise pollution will substantially improve. The gradual extinction of gasoline-powered vehicles will result in a major reduction in noise in city centres and neighbourhoods. Wind and tyre noise are the only sounds produced by an electric vehicle as it goes by.
Traffic noise has been shown to be detrimental to one’s health. It may result in persistent sleeplessness, sadness, and anxiety. Therefore, driving an EV has health benefits for the general population, and for climate-conscious individuals, owning an EV is a small way to reduce their carbon impact.
Other reasons driving the growth of the EV sector are safety, technology, and economics. Safety is a major issue for everyone purchasing a vehicle, and electric vehicles are no exception. According to the NHTSA, an occupant of an electric vehicle will sustain fewer injuries than in a gasoline-powered vehicle. Therefore, electric automobiles are marginally safer. This is reflected in the less compact packaging of EVs, which leaves additional space for safety equipment and electronics. EV battery packs must comply with their own testing requirements. In addition, EVs are equipped with safety mechanisms that disable the electrical system in the event of a collision or short circuit.
Because electric vehicles are powered by batteries, it is easy for manufacturers to incorporate the same convenient features found on your smartphone or computer. Adding additional features and modern technology to a vehicle increases its desirability significantly. Compared to gas-powered vehicles, electric vehicles are still in their infancy, leaving the significant potential for the development and testing of new technologies.
The fact that electric vehicles are more fuel efficient and less expensive to operate than gas-powered vehicles is not new information, but it is becoming more evident, and more people are considering it as gas prices increase. Gas prices have always been volatile, but since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the imposition of sanctions on Ukraine, a major oil and gas producer, they have been even more so. Fossil fuels are a finite resource. Eventually, we will run out of gasoline, and our automobiles will become pricey metal bricks. This may appear to be a distant, apocalyptic possibility, yet the remaining years of fossil fuels are counted in decades, not millennia.
Owning an electric vehicle requires considerably less maintenance. Tires, air conditioning filters, and light bulbs will still require replacement, but no oil or drive belt changes are necessary. EVs use regenerative braking, which returns energy to the battery as the vehicle is decelerated. This function reduces the use of the vehicle’s brake discs, resulting in less significant wear and a longer lifespan. The initial cost of the EV is slightly higher, but the savings from not having to perform oil changes or fill up the petrol tank mount up. If anything can save money, it is certain to be popular.
Even if we did not want to move to EVs, we will have no choice by the middle of this century. Optimistic predictions set the probable moment of complete EV adoption around the year 2040, although global geopolitics might either accelerate or retard this process. Nevertheless, EVs represent the future. It is only a matter of time before that future arrives.
