You may have noticed in recent news that Acura scrapped its plans for a new, all-electric RSX that was showcased in concept form at Monterey Car Week last fall. Changing market demand, tariff policies, and strategic shifts in direction were all noted as key drivers of the decision. Honda and Acura project a significant loss to result from the move.
Maybe it’s not prime time for automakers to be all-in on electric vehicles? Sure, the Ford Mustang Mach-E outsold the traditional gas-powered Mustang (at 51,000 units sold in the United States in 2025), but a February 2026 sales report showed that interest in the gas-powered Mustang was back on the rise while EV sales were falling.
Even 30 years ago, people were skeptical about the future of EV motoring. Illustrator Pippa Garner became known for her sketched parodies of consumer products and cars. In the November 1996 issue of Car and Driver, her work was featured in the “Last Page” section with some renderings about the possible future of electric cars. Garner came up with nine drawings. You might get a kick out of some of these.
First, some new models: The Hoover Convertible II and the Ronson Whiskabout!
Here’s a solution for “fast-charging” (albeit, not an environmentally friendly one).
This one isn’t too far from the current truth; we already have traditional plug outlets in many vehicles.
These lightning shades are pretty hip. I’d rock them.
A stick-on tailpipe! To be honest, that’s already a thing. Many vehicles have “fake tips.”
There’s an idea: A three-mile extension cord so you’re permanently tethered to a power outlet.
My favorite: A treadmill used as an emergency generator.
Garner passed away in December 2024 at age 82 following a battle with leukemia, but her legacy lives on in both digital and print forms of automotive media. I’m still cracking up over the three-mile extension cord. As ridiculous as these ideas were back in 1996, Garner wasn’t too far from the truth with some of them.