World EV Day – Are You Amped up or Feeling a Little Discharged?

It seems that everything has to have its own “day” nowadays. Such commemorative occasions were historically reserved for things that were collectively deemed as important or worth celebrating. Mothers and fathers, for instance. Significant moments in history, such as the end of First World War hostilities. Causes that deserve to be highlighted, like PRIDE and mental health awareness, to name just a couple of examples. We could go on but you get the picture. Well, today we celebrate World EV Day, apparently, as we search for a term that best illustrates the rolling of one’s eyes…

Don’t get us wrong, we’re not against electric powered vehicles, done right we think they can be incredible, especially in the restomod world, we’re just not sure the movement requires a commemorative 24 hours, but here we are.

What does it even mean though? Is it, in fact, meaningless? The purpose of World EV Day, we suppose, is to perhaps raise awareness of the subject but with the topic having been well and truly shoved down our collective throats for what feels like forever, we’re sure that all but the most die hard hermits, vehemently reticent, and the occasional ostrich are (pain)fully apprised of the situation by now.

The official World EV Day website (we wouldn’t be surprised if there was a TikTok account, too) describes it – with a rather political bent we hasten to add – thusly: “Uniting companies and individuals, policy makers and thought leaders, World EV Day is a day of activations and announcements that continue to propel the emobility movement across the globe”.

The term “movement” carries with it some weighty political connotations too and it has been clear since day one that the push for us all to be driving electric vehicles is very much on many a government’s agenda, with policy makers vilifying the internal combustion engine and looking to outright ban it. But we can’t help raising the age-old, perfectly logical and incredibly compelling argument concerning the overall environmental impact of building millions of brand new EVs compared to keeping a bunch of old classic on the road.

Yes, an electric car may be better for the environment compared to an ICE vehicle day to day, but the sheer amount of energy, resources and precious metals required to build the thing in the first place is colossal. Let’s not forget that electricity doesn’t grow on trees either folks…

Don’t just take our word for it though. According to studies, the average classic car produces around 550-650kg of CO2 per year. Now that doesn’t mean much on its own, granted, but when you compare it to the frankly gargantuan 26 tonnes used to produce a single new electric car it really puts things into perspective. You would have to drive that aforementioned average classic consistently for over 40 years to match those numbers.

On top of the facts and figures there’s also the more subjective issues we as classic car fans have with EVs. Let’s take a look at the new Ford Capri as an example. We’ve already discussed our feelings on this abomination but it’s a prime example of manufacturers rolling over and listening to focus groups, government advisers and energy companies instead of their loyal fan bases. Yes sir, no sir, three batteries full sir. The new Capri shows just how electrification can sully reputations in the drive for acceptance, creating an utterly unremarkable and totally forgettable vehicle that’s devoid of character in the process.

We have no problem with people converting Capris to run on electricity, each to their own (we even endorse it), but Ford debasing one of its most popular models ever in a bid for compliance is a step too far for many, and the great litmus test that is the Internet seems to wholeheartedly agree. Apart from Eric Cantona apparently. But he clearly desperately needed a paycheck.

We’re not Luddites. Far from it. We’re not stuck in the past and we’re certainly not EV deniers, we just prefer old cars, it’s as simple as that and the Capri example above perfectly illustrates the reasons for our preference. Classic cars make us feel good, they make us feel alive. We’ve said it before but driving a classic really is nourishment for the soul. New cars are boring, they have no soul and they all look the same. To coin a phrase, they provide sensations, not emotions. Classic cars are visceral and will always excite us, stimulate us and evoke passions that no new EV can ever come close to replicating.

Despite enjoying their own “day”, electric vehicles are not the be all and end all. They are a solution, not the solution and we firmly believe that sustainable fuels will play just as big a role in the future of the automotive and classic vehicle industries as electricity, with companies like SUSTAIN championing the internal combustion engine alongside our beloved classics that are powered by them.

For us at least, classic cars don’t need a specific day because every day is classic car day. We live and breathe them, we own them and use them, we race them and celebrate them. We love them (and sometimes hate them too – hey, at least we’re honest!) all year round. So ignore all the flying sparks online and high voltage vibes today, go for a blast in your classic instead. And if you’re yet to pick one up then your journey starts right here on Car & Classic. We’ve got you covered.