It’s not a real car at all. It’s an AI-generated image of a car. I used this prompt: “A stylish but realistic-looking electric vehicle that a family might want.” 

I do own an electric vehicle that many families seem to want. It’s a 2023 Volkswagen ID.4, one of the higher trims. I personally think it’s stylish, but it’s certainly not for everyone.

I acquired this vehicle in the fall of 2023. It’s the first electric vehicle I’ve owned. Somewhat surprisingly given my aversion to flashy tech and the social circles I run in, I believe it’s the first pure EV owned by anyone I know well enough to know what kind of car they drive. 

I expect that won’t be the case for long.  But while it lasts, I figured I’d share my experience with this still-novel drivetrain (to me, at least) and my musings about electric personal transportation more generally. I hope — for all our sakes — that these thoughts and indeed this entire project come to feel dated in the not-too-distant future.

For now, please enjoy. I welcome feedback: in conversation on Twitter/X or Threads, in comments on individual posts below, or by email via the contact form at the bottom of my homepage here.