Volvo has set itself apart from other mainstream automakers this month by announcing that all of its new models from 2019 onwards will be electric or hybrid. Five fully electric models and a range of hybrids will become available between 2019 and 2021. In a year in which Tesla has surpassed Ford Motors and GM in market value, the shift toward electric can only be seen as a smart move for Volvo. But, interestingly enough, it was not actually a choice made to corner the American market.

Volvo is owned by Geely Motors, a little known Chinese company that purchased the Swedish brand from Ford in 2010 for a fraction of the cost that Ford had originally paid. The purchase could have driven Volvo into the ground but instead has given it new life in the Chinese market, where government regulations favor electric and hybrid vehicles in large cities. Geely has built a name for itself with its reinvigoration of Volvo and has now moved on to purchasing the makers of London’s ubiquitous black cabs, the racing brand Lotus, and the flying car start-up Terrafugia. Volvo is not the only brand under the Geely umbrella to go green–Geely opened a solar powered factory near Coventry, England this year which has created all-electric cabs for London Taxi Co. The UK government has been preparing plans to give taxi drivers grants for switching to these low emission cabs.

Geely stock price has been climbing ever upward over the past several years, tripling over the course of 2016-2017. The Chinese juggernaut may not be a household name in the U.S. at the moment, but it is expanding across Europe and into the Southeast Asian market, where American automakers have historically struggled to gain a foothold. If the company continues to commit to low emissions vehicles and transforming iconic brands into electric powerhouses its success may spread to the American market. Although the company will probably never have the immense production facilities of its direct competitors, with Ford and GM sales taking a downward turn, Geely may have found its moment to begin edging into the North American market.

The shift to electric has been underway for several years and Volvo is truly just a high profile manifestation of a larger trend–however every effort to drive consumers toward electric energy should be applauded. From the Nissan Leaf to Tesla’s more affordable Model S to the ever popular Prius, electric and hybrid vehicles are now settling into a price range that first time buyers are more comfortable with–but what about drivers with loyalty to a certain brand? In those instances, a massive transformation like the one Volvo is undergoing captures a section of consumers that may never have planned to buy electric–but could change their minds when the vehicle comes from a name they trust. Whether or not the Volvo transition is just a drop in the bucket on the path to a fully electric future, Geely clearly has a vision and commitment to electric energy that makes it unique in the conventional automotive market.

Jillian Sequeira

Jillian Sequeira was a member of the College of William and Mary Class of 2016, with a double major in Government and Italian. When she’s not blogging, she’s photographing graffiti around the world and worshiping at the altar of Elon Musk and all things Tesla. Contact Jillian at Staff@LawStreetMedia.com

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It’s always upsetting when celebrities do not really give back to communities in need. Luckily, Senegalese-American singer and producer Akon fully agrees with my sentiment for the need to give back. This summer, his charitable organization, Akon Lighting Africa, will be opening a solar academy that will help bring electricity to over 600 million Africans.

The organization was originally launched in 2004 with his other co-founders, Thione Niang and Samba Baithily. All three men have been known to heavily involve themselves in organizations that promote economic growth and social progress in Africa. Since that time, the organization has also provided solar street lamps and domestic solar panels in over one million households in approximately 14 African countries.

The organization intends to open its solar academy in Bamako, Mali’s capital. Given that the continent sees an average of 320 days of sunshine a year, it’s a more than welcoming environment for solar power. Akon Lighting Africa intends to effectively utilize this sunlight–harnessing solar energy is an ideal way to bring electricity to those without it.

Akon and the other co-founders discuss how necessary sustainable jobs are in Africa. Approximately seventy percent of the population is under 35, making Africa the continent with the youngest average population. To them, investing in solar power for the future can help in more ways than one. Thione Niang stated:

The academy will aim to teach people how to install and maintain solar-powered electricity systems as well as micro grids which are really taking off in rural Africa.

It’s the organization’s expectation that Africans who graduate from this center will be able to devise new, innovative, technological solutions. “With this Academy, we can capitalize on Akon Lighting Africa and go further,” said Niang.

In addition to Akon Lighting Africa, Akon has other charitable initiatives operating in Africa. The Konfidence Foundation, which has been around since 2006, works to raise public awareness for issues regarding certain conditions in Africa, as well as providing underprivileged youth with educational materials, recreational resources, and health and wellness services. Akon told African Vibes:

As a regular person, there’s not much you can do, but as a celebrity you can influence millions of people, which makes it a lot easier. Things can happen a lot faster, and I like to take advantage of that and find more ways to bring opportunities to Africa.

He has spoken out in other media outlets about his drive to give back in Africa, stating in a 2014 Politico interview:

I think the United States probably may take the value of Africa just a little bit for granted. I think with the right partners, the right neighboring allies and the right support, Africa could be dominating. Because it has all the natural resources you can imagine, and if all the other countries actually got together and created unity, the dollar would be humongous.

There are obviously many other celebrities in addition to Akon that make an effort to give back to those in need internationally. For example, in 2007, Oprah Winfrey opened The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa located in Henley on Klip in Gauteng province. Beginning with 7th and 8th grade classes, the school grew one grade year each year until it reached capacity in 2012. While Akon and Oprah are just a few select examples of international outreach, they really epitomize a strong sense of charity and generosity.

Angel Idowu

Angel Idowu is a member of the Beloit College Class of 2016 and was a Law Street Media Fellow for the Summer of 2015. Contact Angel at staff@LawStreetMedia.com.

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