Syrine Ben Ayed - Week 8 - The Roaring EV Revolution
The lively tunes of the jazz ensemble flow through the chilly night air, carrying with them the carefree spirit of night. Flappers flail their arms and swing their legs, intoxicated by the invigorating aura of the evening.
Amidst this chaos, the roaring of an engine sounds outside, as a Rolls Royce of rich beige and nickel parks into the driveway beside a Ford–automobiles of the 1920s; symbols of freedom, progress, and prosperity.
With the economic boom and a growing consumer-based market, the Roaring Twenties saw a parallel era of automotive revolution. The period witnessed a surge in automobile production, as individuals eagerly invested in this means of freedom and adventure upon the open road.
The automotive industry had faced unprecedented growth, and a century later, the industry continues to soar with success. It is no longer absorbed in the glamor of combustion engines, which have proven to be detrimental to our home, however; instead, it looks toward a greener future promoted by sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation. With an evolving consumer base that holds a greater environmental consciousness, we have entered, as a nation, a new era that diverges from the traditional gasoline automobiles and leans toward electrical vehicles.
This modern revolution is unmistakable in the Bay Area, as the presence of electrical vehicles has grown at exponential rates over the past five years. From enhancing battery efficiency to the ongoing developments in self-driving vehicles, the automotive industry continues to advance.
As I look out my window, the very driveways that once exhibited the thundering combustion engines of the past are no longer the same; they are transformed, populated with a new generation of modern EVs that serves as a reminder of the continuous shift in culture and technology, and the collective commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable future.
Hi Syrine! It is cool how your discussion of the evolution of the car industry ties into The Great Gatsby, mentioning the then cutting-edge vehicles’ symbolization of autonomy and wealth. The growth of mass consumerism and the ability of normal citizens, not just the aristocratic class, to afford nonessential goods provided a ready market for car companies and manufacturers of many other vehicles to thrive. It is interesting how the drive for money forces corporations to submit to societal pressures. The widespread awareness of global warming began as a political issue in the 1980s. Since then, more Americans have taken electrical vehicles more seriously in an attempt to alleviate the Earth from more greenhouse gas emissions. At first, electrical vehicles could not perform at the same levels as traditional vehicles, and they were more expensive and inconvenient. Only a small number of consumers could afford it then. As technology develops and the message of global warming becomes more well-known, people begin to expect others to buy electric cars, and companies cater to those needs. Like you, I have noticed that the Bay Area has significantly more electrical vehicles, especially Teslas, than other places. I feel that the transition of technology is rapid, whether it is driven by ethical causes or money. Just like how the first motor cars replaced horse-drawn carriages in a radical fashion, electric cars (and potentially, hopefully self-driving cars) will replace traditional cars just the same.
ReplyDeleteHey Syrine! When I first read the word "jazz," I immediately got reminded of the Great Gatsby Party, which was just a couple days ago. It's nice timing that you also made your blog post about cars, as we learned about the Rolls Royce and the Ford Model T recently, both in USH and Apeng. I learned that before the Ford Model T was made, only a couple thousand people had cars (estimated around ~10,000 people) in the 1900s, and after the Ford Model T was mass produced because of the new method of producing stuff (assembly line), by the 1920s there were tens of millions of people with cars. It is similar to nowadays, with electric vehicles. A couple years back, I barely saw any teslas on the streets, but now I see a tesla every couple cars or so. This is likely due to the increasing affordability of electric vehicles, as they can save you thousands of dollars on just gas alone. You can also help save the environment, which is another positive. With so many pros, it's becoming hard to NOT have the desire to buy an electric vehicle.
ReplyDeleteHi Syrine! I love that you connected the Roaring Twenties, a topic that we are heavily talking about in class, to the booming of cars and the prosperity of America. Because of cars, society has been able to grow vastly and we tend to overlook many of the benefits. Cars allow us to get to places in a short amount of time, such as work, which enables people to live far away from their workplace. Cars also allow us to take road trips, visit family and friends, and so much more. Without these vehicles, we would not be as evolved in society, but, as you mentioned, cars do have a negative impact on the environment. Just as we evolved a century ago to create cars, we are now evolving once again in order to fix the issues of them. Electric vehicles are a great solution to the issue as they work just as well as a gas car, but are much better for the environment. Companies like Tesla, which are known for their electric vehicles, have many added benefits that make their cars more appealing. For example, the I-pad in the car enables one to play games, watch movies, or go on other social media which attracts more customers. In the Bay Area, almost every family owns a Tesla or some other kind of electric vehicle so I am glad that this shift in society is being made in order to save the environment.
ReplyDeleteHey Syrine! While looking at the review of all the blogs to decide which blog to comment on, I saw that you the word "flappers" and I was instantly reminded of the Great Gatsby and had to see what was up. I love how you tied in the Gatsby unit into this since I enjoyed the Gatsby unit very much. I think in 4th grade (???) my dad's lease on a gas car was up and instead of renewing it, he got an electric car instead. Now, my dad has the upgraded Nissan Leaf and loves it. Not only is it cheaper since we charge it using solar power (so its free!!) but also just thinking about all that gas money we saved is crazy. My dad orginally got the electric car because there was a reward Obama set up, that one year (?) of using an electric car will earn you however much money, and my dad is all for the deals. Although apparent electric car batteries are harmful to the environment too, they are still miles better than gas cars, hopefully they find a solution to that issue soon.
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