As you may know by now, I’m trying to cause widespread change to what I now see as true Sustainable Living. I define that as (1) living 100% with what Earth provides – which I can tell you, from experience, isn’t actually all that difficult to do, and do less expensively – and (2) enjoying as rewarding and enriching a quality-of-life experience as possible.

But – people I know, who know our net zero development, and with whom I’ve worked, will consistently buy a non-sustainable house and drive a gas-powered car … because … that what most folks do. Being in harmony with what others are doing can be comforting. But it stymies progress. So, I’ve been looking for ways to change “what’s normal” to a “healthier normal.”

Beginning with quotes from “Change”, a book by Robert Caldini et al …

 

“If many people currently engage in a behavior,

others are likely to follow suit … “trending

norms” are norms in which the number of

people engaging in a behavior is increasing

 – even if this is only a minority of people.

 

“Current research shows people conform

more to these trending minority norms

than a majority norm alone.

 

“This demonstrates strategy for leveraging

normative information to increase conformity to

behaviors not yet performed by a majority who

predict the increase in prevalence will continue.”

 

From reading in this trend’s research … I wondered how these behavioral trends might apply to a transition to electric cars. EV sales in the U.S. were:

 

% gain          Actual gain

2020:  233,336

2021:  384,410        64.7%           151,074

2022:  713,145        85.5%           328,735

2023:  1,077,138     51,0%           363,993

2024:  1,233,455     14.5%           156,317

 

When your sales go from 100 to 200, that’s a 100% gain. But if we maintain sales the next year and go from 200 to 300 that’s only a 50% gain. So – we can’t expect as high a percent of increase as a market grows. However, if we look at the increase or decrease of EVs as a percent of the new car market:

 

2021   all cars: 15.07 million        EVs: .38 million       market share: .25%

2024   all cars: 16.5 million          EVs: 1.23 million     market share: 7.5%

 

In summary, EVs tripled their market share in the last three years!

From a more daily life perspective, EVs are no longer a rarity on the streets.  In addition, the number of brands and body types has also been increasing. And, using Consumer Reports, I found nearly a dozen EVs with a $30,000 price range and a driving range of over 250 miles per charge. So …

Each year EVs have more options and cost a lot less to maintain than gas cars. In fact, the increasing number of fear-based TV commercials selling car repair insurance, cite costly repair problems that simply don’t apply to EVs.

As the research concludes: “People conform more to these trending minority norms than a majority norm alone.” Expect to see a steady increase of EVs on the streets. Air quality is healthier. Refueling is more convenient, and you can recharge at home and start each day with a “full tank.” Finally, little recharging stations, sprouting up everywhere, are a lot simpler to create than the gas stations we had to build a hundred years ago.

In countries such as Norway, EVs are already over 90% of all new car sales. Living in better harmony with Earth, we can begin to counter the destructive climate events that are increasing in numbers and severity each year.

But wait, there’s more!

In global surveys, Norway’s health scores, their happiness scores, and even their economies are better than those of the U.S.

Joining the growing trend changing to EVs is healthier and saves a lot of money. I switched twelve years ago, and haven’t regretted it for a moment. I invite you to do the same.

Recalling the famous Margaret Mead quote …

 

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,

committed citizens can change the world.

Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

 

Norway’s government created financial incentives to support the transition to a healthier life and economy. But the U.S, is a major oil producer, and the oil PAC pays for politicians to support their interests, as in “Drill, baby drill!”

The financial incentive in the IRA, which makes a $30,000 EV only $22,500. And the change in annual maintenance check-ups from $750 to $220 make the transition to a less costly and healthier transportation option a virtual no-brainer. (It’s also nice to not have oil stains on my garage floor and no gas fumes in my house.)

Join the trend and enjoy the difference this transition makes!

 

Stu Rose, Ph.D.