BJ Birtwell’s Post

Gov’t messaging + mandates have so politicized EV’s that driving one has become the antithesis to wearing a MAGA hat. Don’t miss the thick hyperbole of that statement…but it is intentional. The message that’s been crafted over the last four years by the US Gov’t has typecasted EV buyers. As if all of today’s EV buyers are environmentally minded. They certainly are not. We’re no longer living in the ‘early adopter’ stage of this industry of environmentally minded EV shoppers. Rather, we have entered the next layer of significant potential growth filled with the e-curious and skeptics, who are unfortunately having to consider not simply price, range, and charging availability, but also what the decision to go electric means amongst their (Republican) peers. What an eye-roll moment. As if buying an EV is a Blue or Red thing…yet that’s exactly what the messaging narrative has created. In fact EV’s are now so politically divisive that both nominated candidates have made EVs a messaging point. Pro electric Biden. Anti electric Trump. So the car I drive now represents my politics? Hell no. Yet that’s exactly what’s happening. Now more than ever we need the voices of Elon, Farley and other Auto OEM CEO’s to demolish the idealogy that what you drive signals if you’re blue or red. If you’d like to see the adoption of EVs continue to grow, stop politicizing EVs. Focus on the features and benefits that matter most to this next generation buyer. Lower maintenance costs. Thrilling performance. Fun tech. If you choose to make climate the main message in your marketing, prepare to cut your buyer pool in half. At the most basic level, EVs are simply an optional form of transportation that use a different ‘fuel’ source. That’s it. It’s no different than choosing to go diesel. Same mode. Different fuel. Let’s go industry! ⚡️

Making EV’s about climate change will not drive broader EV adoption. I understand Jonny’s point, but we’ve come to a stage in the industry where the majority of today’s EV shoppers are not considering EV’s because of environmental reasons like they were the past 5 to 10 years. I speak from the trenches where buyer’s are making their decisions. I hear it from hundreds and thousands of consumers at Electrify Expo. If our festival was mainly about the positive environmental impact of EVs, our festival would be a tenth of the size. Rather, we focus on the experience of EVs. The thrill. The technology. And this is what drives broader EV adoption and makes us the #1 place to go electric. MotorTrend Group Electrify Expo

Pretty much. 🎯

🤯Politicians won’t change your mind. Mandates won’t change your mind. But a real-world experience at Electrify Expo, yea, that might just change your mind. 😎😎

Overheard from E-Bike brands at Electrify Expo Long Beach: “We sold out completely.” “We sold $200K of our bikes.” “We did record # of demos.” “We need a beer. Were beat!” Denver is next. Let’s go E-Bike industry!! Get involved!

Stop politicizing EVs. It's not a red or blue thing. We don't need mandates. We don't need media narratives. We don't need to tell American consumers what they must buy (or else!). The more we tell American consumers what they must do, the more resistance the EV industry will face. I've spoken to thousands of EV shoppers and the answer is choice. Allow American consumers to make the decision on what is best for them and their family. Focus on the features, benefits and merits. Allow manufacturers to duke it out in the sandbox of a free market. Period.

I've been following James Carter for a while now and his posts always get people talking. I can't wait to hear what he has to say at Industry Day in Long Beach on May 31. Bring the heat James! 😎

Crazy that neither EVgo or Electrify America capitalized on the huge PR opportunity left in the wake of the Tesla Supercharger news. Huge missed opportunity. Hello??? We don’t know why Tesla did this yet. Lots of speculation. Lots of great talent out there to scoop up. That said, after the dust settles here, I believe the end result will be better for the industry. Poor EV infrastructure is slowing adoption. I hear it while talking to hundreds/thousands of consumers at Electrify. The Auto Manufacturers are doing awesome, making product. The Gov’t and network providers are lagging behind manufacturing and negatively impacting the very thing they are promoting. How frustrating for manufacturers after spending billions! Bottom line is that this news should motivate investment and deployment into EV infrastructure in the US and warn us that there’s no single solution to infrastructure. #Tesla #EV

State Farm Stadium, this weekend in Phoenix. 💯🎉