Earth Day Suggestions: #1 Burn some electrons!

One of my favorite holiday-ish days is this Friday (April 22). This is Earth Day #46. If I were a more ambitious blogger, I'd work on 46 suggestions. Being me and not being ready to quit my day job and all of that, I am shooting for 4.6 suggestions.

Number one is actually fun, and you won't get dirt under your fingernails, and it takes very little commitment on your part, and no money is needed.

Go test drive an electric car.

A Leaf and Charger at McGavock (Love the blue)

Why? Because you are human. Because the best way to learn about something is to experience it with multiple senses. A few weeks back I had the opportunity to take people for rides in an electric car. It was great to see how surprised they were. I am not sure what they expected, but the car far exceeded everyone's expectations. You should test drive one so that you know what it is, so that you can see whether or not an electric car makes sense for you or anyone around you. You may be surprised too.

What does test driving a new car have to do with Earth Day? If you are like most West Texans, you are a car addict. (I know I am.) That means we are all addicted to burning fossil fuels, which also means we are directly responsible for creating a type of pollution that damages the air, damages our lungs, damages our water, and damages our soil. Electric cars offer us a way to maintain our car-based lifestyles without doing nearly so much damage. (And there's a good chance that you will save a lot of money in the process.)

Original Poster from 1970 Earth Day

A few things to keep in mind before you go:

• If you buy a new (completely) electric car, you are eligible for a $7500 income tax break next April. (Whoohoo!)
• Your fuel costs will be about one-fourth of what you are currently spending.
• Electric cars are a phenomenal choice for multi-car families.
• There's a good chance that your salesman will know less than you do about the car.
• There's also a good chance that your salesman will try to steer you away to a gas-powered car.
• There's a good chance that you will experience the EV grin. Electric Vehicles have that effect on people.

There may be others, but I know that there are currently two new electric cars for sale in the LBK. McGavock Nissan (6312 Milwaukee Avenue) has a dark blue Nissan Leaf and Reagor Dykes Mitsubishi (6540 82nd Street) has a pearl white Mitsubishi MiEV.

Mitsubishi at Reagor Dykes

If you go drive either, please do me two favors: tell them the Mesquite Hugger sent you, and please send me a pic (mesquitehugger@gmail.com).

May you be pleasantly surprised and may we all be one step closer to breathing easier.

PS. If you're not quite so hardcore but want to make strides, Gene Messer Ford has a black Ford Fusion Energi (plug-in hybrid) and Gene Messer Chevrolet has a silver 2015 Chevy Volt (plug-in hybrid).

Find many more Mesquite Hugger electric car posts here.