On Tuesday, Pooja Bhatt became the proud owner of a new car, one that she jokes is much like her—“intense and evolved.” There’s more to her bright green Mini Cooper than just style. With the all-electric car, Bhatt has made the environmentally conscious choice of joining the electric vehicle (EV) revolution.

“A lot of people dissuaded me from getting an electric vehicle, saying that one should wait for a couple more years before it becomes a norm. But I went ahead because electric vehicles contribute to a greener future by producing zero emissions. They are easier to maintain than petrol vehicles, and the small size ensures I navigate the traffic snarls in Mumbai,” says the actor-producer.

The primary factor for the shift, she admits, was the severe air pollution in the country, with the air quality index (AQI) in Mumbai and Delhi reaching an alarming high. At such a time, electric vehicles are a smart choice over petrol- and diesel-guzzling vehicles that further contribute to the pollution. Bhatt believes it is up to each of us to conserve the planet.

“When it comes to combating the ill-effects of climate change, it’s important to not only walk one’s talk, but also drive one’s talk. I found it absurd to spend an obscene amount of money on a fuel-guzzling SUV. So, I went for a car, which is small in size, but big in terms of its contribution to maintaining [a healthy] AQI.”

The actor-producer, who took her new set of wheels for a two-day trip, is thoroughly enjoying the new ride. “I hope I have a seamless experience with my EV, and never go back to driving a petrol or diesel car again.”