Watch Arnold Schwarzenegger steer customers away from EVs in ridiculous disguise

Arnold Schwarzenegger

is known for his action roles in such films as “Terminator,” “Predator” and “True Lies.” As governor of California, though, his focus shifted from theatrics to real-world issues, and he has championed environmental causes ever since. He’s

championed hydrogen

, been

unequivocally vocal

about addressing climate change, and has even converted his beloved gas-guzzling SUVs to

run on biofuels

and

electricity

. Now, he’s getting back in front of the camera and going undercover, not as a (kindergarten) cop, but as a sleazy

car salesman

in a tongue-in-cheek video persuading

EV

shoppers to stick with fossil fuels.

Wearing a ridiculous wig and fake mustache, Schwarzenegger assumes the identity of Howard Kleiner, approaching car shoppers in an attempt to steer them away from

electric vehicles

. The first couple he approaches apparently sees through the disguise, as the man bursts out laughing as Kleiner introduces himself. They play along, though, as the salesman tries to show off a noisy, smoky

Hummer

as an alternative to a

BMW i3

. Our favorite part comes later in the video, when the shopper shouts over the roaring engine, “No, no, no! I think this will piss off my neighbors,” to which Kleiner responds, “You’re god**** right it will impress your neighbors.”

The other shoppers appear to fall for the ruse, offering reasons they would prefer an EV. They note tax credits, HOV lane access, quiet operation and saving money on fuel, to which Kleiner has a preposterous, even offensive, rebuttal for each. Interestingly, the environmental benefit isn’t highlighted in the video until near the end, when Arnold mentions how “Electric cars save money, time and the environment without sacrificing any of the fun and excitement of driving.”

The video was made in collaboration with

Veloz

, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing EVs, and at the end, it directs viewers to its Kicking Gas campaign at the

Electric For All website

.

The video is genuinely funny, and despite the serious topic, we hope Schwarzenegger’s good/bad acting and impeccable comedic timing help the message reach more people. Now excuse us as we poke around EV configurators online while watching my VHS copy of “Junior.”

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