Featured Electric Car Myth Buster

I still remember that first time witnessing a freak out. My mere mention of a hybrid sent that SUV owner into a state of panic, as if she had been confronted by death itself. Rumors of these new green vehicles had caught her attention and created such a deep fear of losing her SUV, the encounter with me triggered an intense emotional reaction. Her faced turned red and she started screaming about having to give up that vehicle she loved so much. It was surreal. It was 17 years ago.

The crazy large SUVs hadn't been introduced yet. Gas was less $1 per gallon. The term "climate change" hadn't even been coined yet. We were just blissfully consuming oil with little concern for carbon or smog emissions. Think about how much has happened since then.

Proving an automotive-grade battery could be robust enough to last the lifetime of a vehicle was still a monumental challenge. Most people didn't even believe they could deliver enough power to propel the vehicle to be safe on roads. Most people also thought that hybrids needed to be plugged in to recharge. It was a very different time.

When Prius began to shock the world, greenwash attempts emerged in abundance. Many were exploits of misconceptions. Those hoping to undermine steps forward pushed assumptions in the wrong direction, leading you to incorrect conclusions. As time proceeded, the deceptions got more vindictive. Eventually, things became desperate. Rather than just omit vital information to mislead, some turned to dishonesty. They would just outright lie. They just plain did not care. They weren't ready for their world to change.

The most effective tool I have found to combat those efforts to retain the status quo was video loaded with lots of data. It's extremely difficult to distort reality with such detail information readily available. The footage reinforces Prius reputation while at the same time exposes claims of supposed superior technologies as meritless. Just ask the antagonist to show you their data.

Long story short, there are people who will work to impede progress any way they can.

 

Seeing how the EV1 and Rav4 EV were on the road before the Prius here, these likely started with EVs.

I heard global warming on a British sit com from the early '80s that starred Judi Dench.

 

I send this to friends who doubt hybrids.

 

I remember getting a 'Hummer is more efficient' email from a contentious jerk in the neighborhood. You can believe it, it is on the Internet.