America is in the midst of an electric vehicle (EV) revolution. The realities of climate change are becoming increasingly impossible to ignore, and sustainable action is catching on like the wildfires that will soon decimate the southwest. In the hyper-consumerist economies of the global north, particularly in the US, a popular way of “getting involved” with climate action is to purchase “green” products. Few “green” products seem to match the spirit of the car-centric culture of the US better than EVs. Regarding climate solutions, EVs leave a lot to be desired. Their weight and design erode infrastructure, their initial investment cost is higher, and they fail to address the larger issue surrounding transportation in the US. Cars will always be the most emissions-intensive way for people to get around, regardless of how they’re fueled. Americans are attracted to EVs largely due to deeply ingrained cultural norms about our way of life, namely individualism, convenience, and fear of government overreach. However, these same norms can be harnessed for the good of the climate by illustrating how investments in sustainable transportation will benefit all Americans. Infrastructure projects coupled with the right public messaging can fundamentally change how Americans get around while building popular support every step of the way.
To explain the popularity of EVs, consider the US context when it comes to transit. American households typically own one to two commuter vehicles and exist in areas designed primarily for car transport. For example, the statistically average American lives nearly a mile away from the nearest grocery store, and 40 percent live even further¹. A trip to buy food will take at least half an hour round-trip on foot, just to get to and from the store. A single but crucial indicator of how the typical US community is laid out is in a sprawl. Sprawling design revolves around housing people in single-family homes within neighborhoods that are only zoned for residential use, resulting in suburbs separated by long roads from places of employment, commerce, and leisure.
A sprawl, particularly without robust public transit, demands a vehicle for navigation, and not simply because of trip length.