Parking your green guilt
The small changes still count when it comes to saving our planet. But investing in an electric vehicle is one emissions-free way to ensure sustainability.
When it comes to the environment, there’s one emotion that outweighs all others. Beyond the outrage, and the panic and the fear – it’s guilt. The guilt over not doing enough, or the guilt over doing nothing at all.
It’s such a deep-rooted phenomenon, it even has a name – Environmental Guilt Syndrome, or EGS for short. Green guilt can be defined as the feeling that you should be doing more to help save the planet. It lingers over our weekly shop, our routine commute, every trip to the airport.
We live our lives trying to be as conscientious as possible. Ditch those plastic straws. Do yoghurt cartons go in the recycling?
I’ll be damned if I buy another throwaway water bottle. Now, more than ever, the mammoth mark of our own carbon footprint weighs on our minds.
Tack ling EGS can be achieved i n baby steps, like moving towards a plant-based diet or swerving fast fashion. Dismantling that coffee cup so the plastic lid and cardboard jacket is recycled, but the waxy vessel itself chucked. Or better yet, invest in a reusable cup.
The small changes count, but it’s the big ones that pack the real punch. Everyday tricks like reusable cups and meat-free Mondays help, but barely make a dent in the greater fight against climate change.
For those determined to combat their green guilt and make a difference, an electric car might be the environmental remedy you’ve been looking for.
Buying a car is investing in a lifestyle. It’s a big decision to make – how can I fit my suitcases in a compact convertible? There’s hardly room for a baby, let alone a baby chair. Electric cars can be a luxurious solution to your own red-hot flush of green guilt.
Volvo has recharged its product line and set clear targets to reduce its carbon footprint: 50% of sales will be pure electric by 2025, a 40% reduction in lifecycle carbon footprint compared to 2018 by the same year, incentivising hybrid customers to drive in pure electric by reimbursing them for their car charging costs. The XC40 plug-in hybrid has all the heft and substance of an SUV with the silver lining of sustainability. Rooted in technology, it’s built to make your life easier. Getting the best of both worlds with a combined engine, the plug-in hybrid can do short jaunts with zero emissions.
Everyday trips like the school run or the back-and-forth between meetings become more attractive knowing it’s a completely emissionsfree journey. On top of that, strap your little ones into the back seat with peace of mind, thanks to the safety benefits like automatic emergency braking and active lane control.
Sleek design is an added bonus. Streamlined features including chrome trim, LED headlights and modular architecture make for a smooth ride. Slicing through traffic, the silver glide of the plug-in hybrid can travel up to 46 kilometres on electricity alone.
When it comes to saving the planet, every little helps, but you might want to consider making the big change necessary to make a difference. Electric cars are an investment in the future of the planet – easing your green guilt in the meantime.
The Volvo plug-in hybrid will be arriving in dealerships nationwide in March 2020 and is available to order now.