Be the change you wish to see in the world – by Pietro Giovenco

As a college student about to begin my career, it has been an incredible opportunity for me to be a part of Global-E and the X-Prize competition. I am gaining crucial experience in the automotive industry that will undeniably help me in my career search. I have also had a part in an event that could very well serve as a turning point in the automotive industry and a wakeup call to the established automakers. If successful in its mission, X-Prize will spawn a series of super-efficient vehicles that customers want to buy.

 This competition represents the forefront of engineering development, and it is an incredible opportunity for me to become an expert in technology that is rapidly maturing. My motivation for the development of efficient vehicles doesn’t come from an oil supply scare or a theory of global warming, but simply a belief that vehicle efficiency today is sub-par. Oil supply scares and theories of global warming are intangible threats and are not enough to force a substantial change in consumer behavior or the automotive industry. The real change will happen when organic engineering development teaches the consumer to expect 100MPGe without making any sacrifices. People survived just fine without internet, but nowadays the average person becomes nonfunctional if they lose connection. Because of this developed expectation, internet has even spread to the mobile phone for seamless connection to the abyss of information. The technology is present for super-efficient automobiles. Someone just needs to teach the consumer that they should expect it from every car they buy. Once the consumer expects these levels of efficiency, all of those issues of oil supply and global warming are washed away.

My belief is that the natural development process will erase the intangible threats before those threats turn into realities. My proof is that I know there are people like me and companies like Global-E who have the ability to effect this change now. X-Prize provides us the stage from which to speak and teach the consumer to expect more. Mahatma Gandhi was once quoted as saying, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” This is my change, this is my chance, and this is my desire.