My Two Cents on the Transition to Electric Vehicles

January 20, 2022

The shift to EVs will be transformative, but if we are going to really build a more sustainable future, we also need to do more to encourage and incentivize people to take less automobile trips; in the U.S., the tax credits for e-bikes is a good start, but the electric car tax credit is 8x what the e-bike tax credit is. In a recent study from the European Cyclists Federation, electric cars emit 40x the carbon emissions of an e-bike.

Shifting away from our car addicted culture takes significant advocacy, creativity, and innovation. 

New micromobility startups with creative business models such as flexible e-bike subscriptions are proliferating. New form factors that didn’t exist even a few years ago are an everyday sight in every major city. In 2022, you can go to Best Buy and buy an e-bike or e-scooter! 4.5 million e-bikes were sold in Europe in 2020! The Financial Times is writing a review of e-bikes!  https://www.ft.com/content/e6988d4b-5764-4191-835e-9df696044ea8. 

Yes, infrastructure is half the battle, but also the marketing messaging needs to be simple. Like it or not, we’re all consumers first and citizens second. People care about cost and convenience, and if it can also enhance your quality of life and help the planet, bonus! 

As a sustainability advocate or innovator, just because you’re a cog in the wheel, doesn’t mean that you can’t have a major impact. Sometimes it’s worth taking a step back to appreciate and enjoy the fruits of your labor.