Bill Nye: ‘If NASCAR embraced electric cars it could change the world’

Bill Nye may be best known for sporting bow ties and crafting astronomical models on Bill Nye the Science Guy, but in the 18 years since the show wrapped (yes, it has been that long), the writer and comedian has been a notable advocate for climate change education. One of his most prolific arguments is simple — stop burning fossil fuels.

Nye recently penned an op-ed for digital culture magazine Aeon, in which he argues that NASCAR should make the switch to electric-powered vehicles. In his mind, NASCAR is a celebration of “old tech,” one that reinforces the automotive status quo and hinders progress from a social standpoint. And while the environmental benefits of an industry-wide change are obvious, the former mechanical engineer sees another benefit of the EV switch.

“Just think what an electric race would be like,” Nye wrote. “It would be faster, and quiet. You could talk to the person next to you. The drivers could probably hear the roar of the crowd rather than having to imagine it as they do now. And most significant from my point of view, everyone in the crowd, every race fan, would want an electric car! The market for electric cars would go crazy.”

“I wish NASCAR were more like NASA,” he continued. “I wish NASCAR were more about the future instead of the past. I am trying to envision the smart, efficient transportation technology of tomorrow, and there is NASCAR doing the opposite – celebrating a very old transportation technology of yesterday.”

To its credit, NASCAR has committed considerable resources to its NASCAR Green program, which includes a recycling and waste division, a clear air initiative that plants trees to offset race-related carbon emissions, and a renewable energy measure that supplies solar power to various teams and tracks.

In addition, an all-electric race series called Formula E is in the midst of its second season, but for Nye, it’s not quite enough.

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