Why is Rolling Coal Bad?

Capital One is trying to reach those who need auto loans. In their quest to appeal to truck enthusiasts, they’ve hired writers to create stories splash of controversy. In their latest story, the lending service reached out to Gale Banks to see why rolling coal is bad.

“Rolling coal is wasting energy,” said Gale Banks. “It’s horsepower in the air.” The California-based engineer is the founder of Banks Power, which specializes in high-performance modifications for pickup trucks and heavy-duty vehicles.

“It’s like you’re making microscopic charcoal briquettes,” Banks said, “and you’re expelling them into my lungs.”

Why do some truck owners do this? Banks’ disgust at the idea is plain. “It’s a social statement. It’s, hey, look at me, I’m a bandit.”

“There’s a bell-curve intelligence quotient,” he said. “If you’re rolling coal, you’re on the wrong side of the bell curve.”