Written by Vicente Tablit
Two of the most notorious American muscle car manufacturers, Chevrolet and Dodge, have stated that they’re converting to electric vehicles (EV) in hopes to achieve carbon neutrality.
Dodge has already produced their first electric Dodge Charger, and it is being released in late 2024: The new Dodge Charger Daytona SRT EV.
Classic American muscle cars are known for their powerful and mighty engines along with their storied pasts. Pressure mounts on these automakers to convert to electric vehicles in order to reduce carbon emissions.
Though they are discontinuing the engines and removing the sound and thrill car enthusiasts desire, The manufacturers are still trying to go for the same performance, if not better. Automakers are going for a sleeker, low profile, futuristic, and overall faster look.
“We’re just going to use electrification to make it faster, not more politically correct,” said Tim Kuniskis, the CEO of Dodge.
Dodge has even gone to the extent of using fake engine noises! <https://youtube.com/shorts/kjiWnarEvRM?si=ZSI-ghOyPjeJd5YZ>
Experts say they aren’t convinced it will be able to win over die-hard fans of gas powered hot-rods who have devoted decades to collecting and caring for cars with the famous V8 internal combustion engines.
“Despite the fact that EVs can have acceleration and other on-road performance characteristics that are just as good as conventional IC engine cars, I think that many car enthusiasts will not welcome the switch to EVs, and they may resist it until IC engine cars simply are unavailable,” said Peter Frise, the director of the Center for Automotive Research and Education at the University of Windsor. “And that will take many years.”
But as the years pass the Government becomes more and more strict with emissions from vehicles. The gas prices rise and consumers are seeking more gas efficient vehicles and even some EV’s.
Manufacturers are shifting over to EV’s whether some consumers like it or not.The automakers are facing regulatory requirements regionally and globally that are effectively forcing them towards electrification.
Last year President Joe Biden, signed an executive order to make half of all sold vehicles to be zero emissions by the year 2030.
As for the last generations of gas-powered muscle cars, they will most certainly skyrocket up in value due to the rarity of gas powered vehicles. Especially an American Muscle V8 pushing 400-500 Horsepower.
As for internal combustion engine powered vehicles slowly converting to EV in the near future, how do you think It’ll affect the environment? Do you think the EV Executive order will actually follow through?
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