Electric Car Myths Debunked: Fact vs Fiction
Ellie Dyer-Brown, 1 month ago
5 min read
- Electric vehicles
- Car ownership
FixMyCar examines seven common myths about electric cars.
How much do you know about electric cars? It might be less than you think. Research by YouGov shows that more than half (53%) of the 1,000 petrol and diesel drivers polled answered no more than two out of 10 questions about EVs correctly.
The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), which commissioned the research, has warned that the “constant stream of misinformation” about electric cars is stopping people from making the switch. With this in mind, we’ve compiled a myth-busting guide to help you separate facts from fiction regarding EVs.
Contents
Myth 1: EVs don't have enough range
Myth 2: There aren't enough public EV chargers
Myth 3: Electric cars break down more than normal cars
Myth 4: Electric cars are a lot more expensive than petrol and diesel cars
Myth 5: EV batteries need replacing every five years
Myth 6: The grid won't be able to cope if everyone switches to EVs
Myth 1: EVs don’t have enough range
Range anxiety is common, but is it based on fact or fiction?
The facts
Statistically, in the UK, a family’s primary car drives 37 miles on average daily, and a secondary car drives around 11 miles. Compare these numbers to the sweet spot for the range of an EV, which is about 200-300 miles, and it quickly becomes apparent that going electric wouldn’t be an issue for most of us.
Even on occasional longer journeys, many drivers stop for 20-30 minutes at a service station on the way to grab a drink and use the facilities. That’s all the time you need to recharge an EV using an ultra-rapid charger.
Myth 2: There aren’t enough public EV chargers
The facts
As of July 24th, there were over 64,000 public charging points for EVs across the UK - and this number is constantly growing. The National Grid aims to ensure that nobody travelling on motorways and dual carriageways is further than 30 miles from ultra-rapid charging, and the government’s rapid charging fund will support this mission by introducing high-powered, open-access charge points across England.
Myth 3: Electric cars break down more than normal cars
The facts
Data from Smart Rescue shows that EVs are 59% less likely to break down than petrol and diesel cars. This statistic is unsurprising since electric vehicles have considerably fewer moving parts, require less maintenance, don’t have fluids like coolant that need topping up and tend to have longer-lasting brake systems due to regenerative braking.
Myth 4: Electric cars are a lot more expensive than petrol and diesel cars
The facts
It’s true that EVs are typically more expensive to buy. In the future, when they become more mainstream, prices will likely go down - but for now, owning an electric car is out of reach for many.
However, the upfront cost isn’t the only thing to consider - typically, EVs have much lower running costs due to the road tax exemption and cheaper refuelling costs. According to Pod Point, this makes them £528 cheaper to own.
Myth 5: EV batteries need replacing every five years
The facts
Most new electric car batteries come with a warranty of around eight years and 100,000 miles, though they are expected to last much longer than that. It’s unlikely an EV battery would only last five years, especially if the car is well maintained.
Myth 6: The grid won’t be able to cope if everyone switches to EVs
The facts
The answer, in short, is that the electricity grid can cope. The switch to EVs will be gradual, and plans are in place to balance supply and demand. According to the National Grid, even if everyone got an electric car tomorrow, demand would only increase by 10%, meaning we’d still be using less power than the peak of 62GW in 2002.
Vehicle-to-grid technology would also allow energy to be put back into the grid when renewable sources like wind and solar don’t provide much power. Electric car owners could make money by selling electricity or using it as a backup in their house during power cuts.
Myth 7: EVs are slower than petrol and diesel cars
The facts
The fastest-accelerating performance car in the world (at the time of writing) is the all-electric Rimac Nevera, but even everyday EVs are generally quicker off the mark than their combustion engine counterparts. Electric vehicles have greater horsepower, allowing them to accelerate faster - but that doesn’t necessarily mean they will achieve a higher top speed overall.
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Written by Ellie
Ellie is FixMyCar's Content Writer. She has over three years of experience writing about cars and regularly collaborates with automotive experts to provide trustworthy advice for drivers in a language they understand. Her work has been featured in Yahoo! Finance, iNews, The Daily Express and The Sun. She has a BA in English literature and an MA in creative writing from Durham University. Outside of work, Ellie follows F1 and eagerly awaits Ferrari's next era of dominance in the sport. She drives a Suzuki Swift.