autoevolution
 

Talking to a Friend with No Driver’s License who Says He’d Buy an EV

I’m driving my Volkswagen Jetta. I’m not alone in the car; I’ve got friends with me; we’re going to the seaside. “It’s a remote place, where civilization has yet to appear and destroy real values”- my gorgeous girlfriend tells me. She’s sitting in the back, though, and the only thing that I can really hear is my high school friend explaining how great EVs are. He’s not a driver yet, even though he’s 28.
I reckon it happened to everybody, having a close friend - bros, they call them these days as if we’re all related all of the sudden. Of course we all have friends, I meant having them surprising you on a regular basis. We all know at least one person that keeps asking the wrong car-related questions; failed issues that tackle your pride. You think: “he’s my friend, but he’s not even a real driver, how can he make me that mad?

The sea is on our left side, and since we’re getting closer to it, I keep seeing small bits of waves hidden beneath the trees. The AC is making all in the back feel rather uncomfortable, but I simply can’t stand this talk anymore.

-Did you know that the air conditioned we’re breathing is far from being the right thing, right? It’s extremely dry, and your Jetta is most likely preserving all the bugs in its filters.
-Yes, I know, I’m a dirty bastard


(Luckily, everybody laughed, so I get a spare two minutes of relaxation. Here he goes again:)

-Look at what Musk is doing, man! He’s changing the world...
-Into a better place, I know
-Yes. I mean, he’s bringing EVs everywhere man. Sedan mode, sportscar mode, and now the 7-seat SUV. Everything is electric, no freaking emissions. Zero, bro!
-Yeah, and the best part is that you don’t even have to go to the gas station, right?
-Yeah, you don’t. It’s almost as if transportation becomes free, man! It’s the future; I’m telling you!


The only issue is that he has no idea how much these EVs actually cost. Sure, you get some incentives. However, aside from Japan’s 1998 Clean Energy Vehicles Introduction Project - which provided a purchase subsidy of up to 50% the incremental costs of a clean energy vehicle - I can’t see other serious buyer-aiding measures.

Furthermore, you may think Europe is great at making environmental plans, but it’s not quite the land of milk and honey. As of April 2011, just 15 of the 27 European Union member states provide tax incentives for electrically-chargeable vehicles, which includes all Western European countries plus the Czech Republic and Romania. They consist of tax reductions and exemptions, as well as of bonus payments for buyers of PEVs, hybrid vehicles, and some alternative fuel vehicles.

It would take several pages to debate each country’s figures, but aside for some exceptions in the Northern countries of the old continent, buying EVs still comes with a big payment. The US are making a lot of progress towards the e-change, especially since Mr. President set he goal for the U.S. to become the first country to have 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2015.

Still, if you don’t consider the entry-level Nissan Leaf or perhaps even the Renault Zoe, can you honestly speak of getting an EV? To be noted, we’re talking about the average Joe who’s somewhere between 25 and 35, has a decent job, and dreams of becoming either a rock star or a successful businessman before reaching 45.

(Wait, my friend takes another chance)

-I heard the Tesla Model X comes with an actual button called “bioweapon defense mode.” You activate it, and the cabin becomes as clean as a surgery room in the hospital. How cool is that?
-Yeah. You could get a surgery in the back seat. How about you switch places with my girlfriend, and we act as if we were in the X?
-You’re mean bro. But, seriously, you’re driving a freaking Jetta man, you’re killing everybody out there. Don’t you care about tomorrow, about keeping the world safe for our kids?
-Well, when I bought the car it was all clean and nice, I don’t afford a new one. I’m waiting for that recall.


(Mine should be recalled soon. I wanted to hit the beach one last time before it gets too cold for that)

-You should totally switch to an EV and sell this piece of yesterday. It’s Volkswagen today; who’s next tomorrow? They all are cheaters man; they just want to sell their cars.
-Yes, everybody is trying to fool you just to get your money, I know your theory. But seriously, what if I just don’t care about EVs, Elon Musk, and all the other hypocrites who are making money off rappers and famous sportsmen? Not to mention that all these people you keep talking about, most of them don't event drive their clean cars after they bought them?


(I don’t really think that way, but we just reached the sand, and I had to make him shut up)


Editor’s note: when we got back from the beach, my friend said he is planning to get his driver’s license later this year. He wants to get an EV soon, he said, and drive us to the seaside, instead. That’s what he states, anyway.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories