“Things I’ve Learned from Lately” is a regular compilation of articles that have made me a smarter marketer. Hopefully, they’ll help you, too.

The Race to Create a Mass-Market Electric Car - This Quartz piece looks at one of the most exciting entrepreneurs in the world and how GM is working to produce mass-market electric cars. The biggest challenge for electric cars today is range, but experts agree that as the range increases, anxiety decreases and consumers make the jump from gas to electric vehicles. That's easier said than done for both GM and Tesla.

A Virtual Reality Resurgence - Virtual reality is experiencing a resurgence, and we can only begin imagining the possibilities, the same way people thought about cell phones 10 years ago. It's impossible to predict what may take place but exciting to consider the possibilities. This piece from The Verge looks at what those possibilities may be by looking at the history and present state of virtual reality. Bonus: The article has a beautiful look and presentation, and it tells you how to create a DIY VR headset.

Keeping Our Thoughts to Ourselves - A Pew Research Center study found that social media users are less likely than others to share their opinions on issues even when they are offline. Instead of debating and having constructive dialogue, people actually hold back and censor themselves unless they know their audience agrees with them. Part of me finds the discovery surprising (especially when looking at some of the rather interesting opinions shared in my News Feed), but there's also a part of me that understands why people may hold back. In some instances, we know how a conversation is going to go with certain individuals based on what they share online, so we hold back.

Tech Trumps Fashion - Kids these days, amiright? This New York Times piece from Elizabeth Harris and Rachel Abrams looks at how today's teens are focusing on tech over fashion during this year's back-to-school season. "The social cachet these days involves waving the latest in hand-held technology," says the article. The trend shows how the disruption of technology permeates all areas of consumerism, and should serve as a wakeup call for all retailers.