As we enter a new decade, what we are witnessing is a once-in-hundred years transition of auto-industry from fossil fuel to full electric. Electric cars in past were been ridiculed and much backlash was generated by many myths that still exists with people resisting the change. Following are ten that I have tried to clear out with facts and new findings which have busted these lingering myths.
Myth 1 - Electric car batteries won't last longer
This one is a common thought embedded in people’s mind experiencing with other electronic devices. Some say, my mobile phone battery didn’t last for 2 years. What most don’t try to understand that batteries in EV are kept in a battery pack where they are maintained for optimal life at temperature of 20 degree celsius for 24/7 even when car is parked. Just like a “fridge” but for batteries.
A consumer report estimates the average EV battery pack’s lifespan is at around 200,000 miles, which is nearly 17 years of use if driven 12,000 miles per year. And new battery tech keeps improving, new batteries announced by Tesla for 2023 that can sustain life 41 years even if charged and discharged everyday. Electric cars truly are long runner and as they have less moving parts its mostly tyres and suspension that wear out most.
Myth 2 - Range of electric car is not enough
Average drivers commutes about 25-50 miles per day and average range of electric car is 181 miles.[1] Normally EVs don’t require public charging i.e if you could charge at home your EV can always be full before starting a journey. Upcoming EVs can now do charge ultrafast like Tesla Model 3 with 350 kW charging capability can add 100 miles in 10 mins.
Only for long trips when you need more than the available range you can charge up easily while on a break. Without which no human should attempt more than average range EV anyway as that could have serious bladder issues for future. But surely with EV range increasing year by year with new EV models, no range anxiety is left. And with surplus number of charging station you’ll be laughing.
Myth 3 - Electric cars are not green
Argument is EVs are made of rare earth elements used for batteries. And as fossil fuel cars don’t, they stand in naughty corner laughing. Due to addition of batteries in EVs most of the carbon footprint of an EV happens during production. But taking everything in account, from production to energy it uses over years an EV generates 28 metric tonnes of C02 whereas ICE cars generate 57 metric tonnes.
Those figures don’t end there. After the end of life for these cars, batteries in EV can have second life in a powerwall storage device or can easily be recycled.
Myth 4 - Electric cars catch fire
Some may have heard news years ago that an electric car spontaneously catch fire and those kind of headlines remain in people’s minds only because it’s rare news. Whereas fossil fuel vehicles catch fire all the time. In London, UK alone in 2020 there were around 27 electric car fires compared to 1021 petrol and diesel fires. You are 500% less likely to catch fire in an EV. [2]
Myth 5 - Electric Power grid won't cope
Each EV which carry around thousands of batteries with use of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology they can be used to offset and balance the national grid. Using same strategy for storing access electricity from renewable sources can also lessen the burden on national grid. So national grid will be fine as Electricity is the new Oil and battery storage is the answer. So more EVs the better!
for more detail read our article on
Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) makes Electric cars future inevitable
Myth 6 - Charging an EV is expensive
Electricity will be cheap even if we take example of most inefficient EV like Porsche Tycan Electric vs the most efficient ICE car say Ford Focus. If charged at home the cost of charging is about 10% of your usual fuel bill spent on fossil fuel car. Even if charged mostly on public charge points it costs about 65% still less compared to ICE cars.
To Find the Cost of Electricity for charging EV read our article
Real Cost of Electricity for charging Electric Car
Myth 7 - Electric car is not suitable for those without home charging unit
Understandably for people whom having a charging point is not an option like those who rent, live in flats and or have to park off street away from their home. For those there is still hope.
- Charge at workplace or charge at public fast charging networks
- There are new startups coming that will rent other people’s chargepoint and driveway
- Whereas company like Ubitricity have taken on idea making use of existing lamp post.
Myth 8 - Electric car are not fun to drive
As the torque of electric car is instantaneous, and as there are no gears in EV it mostly like press accelerator and you are gone kind of feeling. Even in the slowest electric car can beat average fuel car at starting line. But some people find EVs without gears and engine sound quite disengaging. This is just matter of getting used to I mean horse riding was fun back then.
Myth 9 - EV use coal powered Electricity
There’s also the argument that electricity comes from coal power stations, so you’re just shifting the emissions to somewhere else. Yes, in some parts of the world most electricity is from coal power stations. However in the UK, a large proportion now comes from renewables – and many public charging networks are using green sources.
Newly announced research shows that in 95% of the world, driving an electric car is better for the environment than a petrol or diesel car. Average lifetime emissions from electric cars are up to 70% lower than petrol cars in countries like Sweden and France (which get most of their electricity from renewables and nuclear), and around 30% lower in the UK.
Myth 10 - Electric car is too expensive
This is almost true that there is a heavy upfront cost of electric car. This is the prime reason that holds most people back from switching. And not everyone likes to buy brand new cars. The price gap between ICE car is narrowing. But electric cars are getting cheaper. Remember how expensive mobile phone were in 90’s or flat screen TV in 00’s.
On the long run buying a new EV is still comparable cheap than buying a new ICE car. But people are still OK buying dirt cheap ICE car only to bear with more maintenance cost and smoke 10x money spend on pollution causing fuel. With an EV there is hardly any maintenance other than normal tyres and suspension check and there many tax incentives.
for more detail read our article on
Electric Cars to become cheaper but are they already?
Revolution Electrified's Take
There’s no doubt that electric cars are the biggest change the motoring world has seen in a century. For many it’s a change in the way you look at your car and to some degree, use your car. The important thing, however, is not to focus on what you’re not getting and focus on what you are getting.
In the UK, there’s a deadline of 2030 coming for the end of new combustion cars sales. Without a doubt that’s nothing to worry about; electric cars are fun to drive, they are connected, modern and filled with lots of clever technology. If you can charge at home that’s a lot easier than having to go to a petrol station, especially for those who might live remotely, not just those who live in cities.
Throughout years I have heard many baseless argument people have against Electric cars. And its like its printed in their brains some story or some headline read somewhere that resonates with them to think EVs are bad. I still get surprised that after some time these myths are still around hence was my reason to start this website to communicate the facts.
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