Many celebrities are well-known for supporting the environmental cause – while some of them do it by posting messages of support on Twitter or wearing them on t-shirts, others actually go the extra (green) mile by driving environmentally-friendly, electric or hybrid cars. Although electric cars vs hybrid is a perpetual dilemma, and there are certain auto alternatives to be considered as well, Tesla electric cars remain one of the most popular choices among the celebrities.
Cameron Diaz
We all know her as the Bad Teacher, but we sincerely hope she’s not a bad driver too. Driving skills aside, what we know for sure is that Cameron Diaz does care about the environment and has a beautiful black Tesla Model S to prove it.
Jay Leno
With a garage full of cool cars, a lot of which are old-timers or luxurious models, Jay Leno also found some place for electric and hybrid cars, including a 2012 Tesla Model S.
Morgan Freeman
A huge fan of electric cars and an owner of a red Tesla Model S, Freeman has even invested in an all-Tesla limo service. It’s not hard to imagine why, as the image of all those celebrities coming to the ceremonies in Tesla electric cars, hatchback hybrids, and hybrid crossovers easily pops into our mind. From ‘green’ straight onto the red!
- 2017 Tesla Model S specifications:
Weight: 2,148 kg (4,736 lb) Engine: Electric
0-100 km/h: 4.4 s (manufacturer) Torque: 184 lb·ft (249 N·m)
Leonardo Di Caprio
The Wolf of Wall Street is a proud owner of a Tesla Roadster, which could easily compete with some of the top class performance hybrid cars. Catch him if you can!
George Clooney
Another actor with a Roadster, though it seems Clooney would rather swap it for one of performance hybrid cars or even hatchback hybrids, judging by his public outbursts about his Tesla dying out and leaving him in the middle of the road.
- 2012 Tesla Roadster specifications:
Weight: 1,238 kg (2,729 lb) Engine: Electric
Power to weight ratio: 173.3 W/kg Length: 3,939 mm (155″)
Eva Longoria
A dream come true for every eco-conscious guy dreaming about stunning women and electric cars. Though it seems Eva occasionally has to get her hands dirty with her new Tesla Model X.
- 2016 Tesla Model X specifications:
Power to weight ratio: 104.3 W/kg Top speed: 210 km/h (130 mph) (manufacturer)
Weight: 2,350 kg (5,181 lb) Front brakes: disc (ABS) </h2>
More celebrities spotted escaping from paparazzi in their brand new Tesla cars include Matt Damon, Will Smith, Jennifer Garner, and Zooey Deschanel. Other celebrities like Jessica Alba, Orlando Bloom, Bradley Cooper, and Barack Obama have, however, ‘gone green’ by opting for one of the hybrid cars. Which brings us, once again, back to the original dilemma – electric cars vs hybrid cars – which one to choose and why? Seems Cameron Diaz had the same dilemma, but she solved it by pairing her Tesla with one of the hatchback hybrids, namely, a Toyota Prius. Let’s take a look at some of the facts.
Electric Cars vs Hybrid
Although many people still confuse electric cars for hybrids, there is a clear distinction between the two – while electric cars run solely on electricity, hybrid cars are a combination of traditional gasoline-powered vehicles and electric cars.
Price:
The most affordable hybrid cars are available at around $20,000, while the luxury and special edition models go over $100,000. Electric car prices vary insignificantly, although they may be somewhat cheaper due to using only one power source.
Fuel:
Hybrid cars will save you fuel money when compared to traditional cars due to fewer stops at the pump, but since electricity is still cheaper than fuel, electric cars win at this segment. According to some studies, driving an electric car may save you around $10,000 over the period of five years.
Maintenance:
Electric car engines are generally easy to maintain as they have fewer parts and don’t require oil and air filter changes. On the other hand, hybrid cars are more complex and more expensive to maintain due to their dual compulsion system.
Size:
A wide range of body styles and sizes are available, including performance hybrid cars, hatchback hybrids, hybrid crossovers, as well as their electric counterparts.
Although both hybrid and electric cars are more environmentally-friendly than most traditional diesel cars, many celebrities are also considering certain auto alternatives, such as riding public transport, riding a bike, or walking.
On a less serious note – if you are driving a Tesla and it gets stolen, is it then called an Edison?