VW Electrify America’s EV Emoji conundrum

Breaking news over the weekend. The 2021 Ford Bronco ensemble is just 18 months away for those of you who have already reserved one. Ford are saying that the first deliveries are still on for Spring 2021, however if you haven’t reserved yet, chances are you may have to wait until 2022. In more pressing news matters, however, VW’s Electrify America has gotten 935 signatures in its push for the world’s first EV emoji.

Emoji redesigned

What does it actually mean when EA and 935 other people are pushing so relentlessly for the Unicode Consortium to grant the world an EV Emoji? Drivers indicating they’ve gone electric? A pro-EV statement for staunch environmentalists? Greta Thunberg’s subliminal WhatsApp messaging to DJT?

We don’t know, but apparently we should care. After VW were asked to pay out a $2 billion settlement following the Dieselgate emissions scandal, the funds were pumped into Electrify America. They’ve been given until 2026 to expend the entire amount towards its EV agenda. Although, we’re not really sure how much of that would go into creating an Emoji. I mean, surely a freelancer from Fiverr was hired to design this:

Statement of intent

It seems as though this goes beyond the Emoji itself and lends itself to a wider social commentary on the significance of going electric. You see, last year when EA tried to get the Consortium to agree on an EV Emoji, they outright refused saying people could just post a gas pump followed by a lightning bolt. Oh how that must have incensed Greta Thunberg. 

EA wants to be taken seriously. They want to be seen as doing more than giving Elon Musk something new to tweet. From building an EV charging network, to promoting EV education and awareness, they’re going all out. So it’s only natural that they push for an emoji, too, right? I mean millions of people text every day. So far, 935 people agree and they’re looking for 1000 signatures to bring it home.

Applying pressure

It would only be fair for the Consortium to acquiesce. I mean, they did approve a new pick-up truck emoji earlier this year. Unless…they’re part of a larger conspiracy, serving the interests of the oil empire, ensuring the world doesn’t get an EV emoji and thereafter avoiding a state of total automobile anarchy.

Anyway, because of public enemy number one, COVID-19, the next major emoji update, will not be announced until September 2021. This gives EA plenty of time to get their petitions and designs in order and submit it for consideration. 

Even then you won’t get to use the new emojis until 2022. Still, it doesn’t hurt that EA launched their campaign on World Emoji Day (yes it’s a thing), and is now just 65 shy of a full tank. Pun very much intended.

If you want to help them get to a 1000 signatures, visit their petition page here.