Nothing beats the purr and growl of a classic gas powered engine barreling down the road, right? Well some argue these gas-powered monsters are giving way to electric vehicles.

In recent years, there’s been more and more of a push in the favor of electric cars. with 2022 having six percent of all car sales being electric, on track for 50 percent by 2030. The main and obvious appeal of electric cars is the fact that gas powered cars cause a fair amount of damage to the environment.  

What some people may not know is that electric cars are just as, if not more of a threat to the environment than gas cars. This stems from the fact electric vehicles use more resources in their manufacturing than gas cars, meaning they are only effective if they are driven enough to counteract their initial footprint. Additionally, not all electric car charges are exactly green. In fact, according to Wheels For Wishes, “Often, you will be using electricity from a coal power plant to charge your vehicle. Until the source of the power is clean, electric vehicles aren’t totally beneficial to the environment.”

However, let’s forget about the environmental aspect for a moment, and weigh the actual pros and cons of each type of vehicle in a vacuum. If you’re looking to impress some of your more adrenaline-junkie friends, a gas car is most certainly the way to go. The fact of the matter is, a beat up 2000 Ford Explorer can reach top speeds your average electric alternative simply cannot. Yet electric vehicles more often than not have more torque, meaning they can usually reach their top speeds faster than gas vehicles, even if they’re not that impressive. 

So if gas cars rule the streets, there’s no way electric cars could ever replace them, right? Well nightmares may come true in the near future. According to Pete Grieve of Money.com, “California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Washington have made the commitment to stop allowing sales of new gas-powered vehicles after 2035.” Electric cars may be on the rise, but the demand for gas powered vehicles will most certainly never cease until the alleged legislatures reach all fifty states. After all, what’s more American than a gas guzzling beast, and defying the government?