Super Bowl ad admits: Gas is the answer to ‘premature electrification’

Halfway through this year’s Super Bowl, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm declared electric vehicles the big winner of the night.

“We’re just halfway through the big game and we already have a clear winner folks: EVs. Our American-made future is electric,” she wrote.

Every car ad seemed to feature an EV during the NFL’s championship game.

On further review, what should have been electric vehicles’ big night only showed how necessary the internal combustion engine still is.

An ad for the Ram 1500 REV was one of the night’s most memorable.

In it, Ram addresses the elephant in the room regarding EVs, the worry that gives would-be buyers pause: How far can I go without running out of energy? And how much power will I have? Will I be able to tow a camper?

No need to worry, Ram says. There is a “range extender” available.

• Related reading: Elon Musk, Ram admit: With green energy, there’s always a catch
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What the minute-long commercial failed to mention is that the range extender is an internal combustion engine, powered by gasoline.

The Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl, defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35.