More and more Americans are driving away from car dealerships with their brand-new, shiny all-electric vehicles. 

IEA.org says that electric car sales have doubled since 2020, bringing the total number of electric cars in the United States to 16.5 million in 2021. 

Companies like Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, and many others in the United States and Europe have plans to release multiple electric cars by 2030. 

College students are the next generation of car buyers. What do they think of electric cars?

Students at St. Ambrose University were asked their opinion on electric cars, and whether they would purchase one themselves. 

Ross Willirth, a cross-country and track athlete explains his view. “I think electric cars are cool. They are probably going to outrun gasoline and diesel. I don’t know much about the topic, but I’ve heard they are eco-friendly… I wish I had a Tesla. They are luxury.”

Jaxon Shirley, a football player from Oklahoma, disagrees with the cars being promoted as eco-friendly. “No, I wouldn’t buy an electric car. The main reason I wouldn’t buy one is that the idea of an electric car is to stop the use of fossil fuels, yet, it still takes fossil fuels to power the generators that are used to power the electric vehicles.” 

Jaxon grew up in Ardmore, OK, where oil fields are an economic necessity in his state. “Being from a southern state, the oil field is a way of life and is the career path for most people there, including my entire family. Electric cars can take away their jobs. ”

The United States Environmental Protection Agency refutes a common myth that electric cars produce more toxicity in the environment than gas-powered cars. “Electric vehicles typically have a smaller carbon footprint than gasoline cars, even when accounting for the electricity used for charging.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Statistics, electric vehicle sales are projected to be up to 50% of all car sales by 2030. President Biden urges half of the new vehicles to be electric by 2030, says New York Times. 

The Alternative Fuels Data Center states, “Using more energy-efficient vehicles like hybrid and electric vehicles supports the U.S. economy and helps diversify the U.S. transportation fleet.”

The demand for electric cars is growing considerably, despite political discussions regarding fossil fuels.

Jesse Lopez, an SAU freshman cheerleader, had no hesitation about his opinion on electric cars. “I would buy an electric car, especially Teslas. They are very bougie.” 

Although, Lopez sees both sides of the advantages and disadvantages of electric vehicles.

“Coming from a gas station point of view, I think it might put gas stations out of business. The Casey’s I work at in Rock Island made a million dollars alone on gas in 2021… not even including the pizza. But still, I would buy an electric car no doubt” Lopez explains. 

Boston Consulting Group is a global consulting firm that tackles world issues. They predict “up to 80 percent of service stations may be unprofitable by 2035.”

CJ Busch, a fifth-year senior and Field Marketing Coordinator of Sodexo Food Court at St. Ambrose have a different view on electric vehicles. “I wouldn’t buy one right now but I think that electric cars are the future of the automobile business. I believe there is a lack of stations for electric cars. There is no one on campus, which will make it difficult for future or current students who have an electric car.”

Despite the many different opinions on electric vehicles, the number of EVs continues to rise. Will this be the future of car buying?

Sydnee Horstman is a staff writer for The Buzz.