most journeys in the country are less than 100 miles.
In recent years, electric cars have emerged as a promising solution to combatting climate change and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.
However, despite their growing popularity and advancements in technology, numerous myths and misconceptions continue to circulate about electric cars.
From concerns about range anxiety to scepticism about their environmental impact, these misconceptions often overshadow the many benefits of EVs.
We look at seven common myths surrounding electric cars and the reality behind them.
They cannot Travel Far
One of the oldest myths is that electric cars are limited in their range.
Range was a worry for some a few years ago, commonly known as range anxiety.
But technological advances, rapidly falling costs and greater investment mean that when it comes to distance, EVs have few limitations.
The reality is that the majority of drivers in England can easily reach their destinations using electric cars, as most journeys in the country are less than 100 miles.
For longer trips, there are numerous electric car models with a range exceeding 200 miles, and many newer models can travel over 300 miles on a single charge.
A recent study suggested that the UK boasts more rapid chargers along its main roads than any other European nation, with one charger available every 100 miles.
Moreover, there are now over 44,000 public chargepoints spread across the UK, nearly 8,000 of which are rapid or ultra-rapid chargers as of June 2023.
It’s important to note that while public charge stations are widely available, they serve as a supplement to the convenience of home charging.
They are too Expensive
The environmental benefits of EVs cannot be ignored, but what about their price?
Another common misconception about EVs is that they are too expensive.
While there can be an initial upfront investment, looking at the total cost of ownership (TCO) actually makes them cheaper than many of the standard internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
The reality is that while electric cars are more expensive to buy, their running costs are generally lower compared to traditional petrol and diesel cars.
EV journeys can be as economical as 8p per mile when utilising off-peak electricity.
Additionally, the production costs of EVs are steadily decreasing, with projections indicating that by the mid to late 2020s, EVs might be similarly priced to their petrol or diesel counterparts.
Certain EV manufacturers, such as Tesla, implement “dynamic pricing” strategies in various markets, potentially reducing the cost of select models by up to 20%, saving up to thousands of pounds.
Batteries need Replacing every 5 Years
Many times, electric car batteries come under scrutiny, with claims that they need to be replaced as often as every five years.
This is completely false as many current EVs have an eight to 10-year warranty.
The majority of EV batteries have warranties of around five to eight years but are expected to last longer.
New battery lifespans are constantly improving.
When a battery has reached the end of its life, its purpose does not end.
It can be re-used, with renewable energy storage being a primary example.
Batteries are Unsustainable
One myth relates to sustainability and the materials used in batteries.
From raw materials used to production and end use, many question how ‘green’ electric cars truly are.
The truth is that the UK is part of international efforts to secure a transparent, sustainable and ethical supply of EV battery materials.
Existing laws also ban the disposal of batteries in landfills.
Battery producers are obliged to take back EV batteries free of charge and ensure they are recycled according to regulatory standards.
Given the scarcity and price of battery materials, it’s actually in the industry’s commercial best interest to recycle and reuse.
Manufacturers and governments are actively addressing such concerns with stricter regulations and transparency.
They Break Down more than Normal Cars
A prevalent misconception is that electric cars are more susceptible to breakdowns than petrol and diesel cars.
However, this is false.
In truth, electric cars do not exhibit a higher frequency of breakdowns compared to their combustion engine counterparts.
The reality is that electric cars tend to experience fewer breakdowns primarily because they boast simpler mechanical designs with fewer moving parts.
Moreover, EVs require less maintenance and consume fewer fluids, contributing to their reliability.
Their brake systems also tend to endure longer periods of use thanks to regenerative braking technology, which minimises wear and tear.
They take too long to Charge
One of the biggest differences between electric cars and regular combustion engine vehicles is the time it takes to refuel.
While it can take longer to refuel an EV, basic pre-planning can mitigate the impact on your operations.
In actual fact, most of the charging happens either at home or near drivers’ homes overnight.
With the availability of rapid chargers capable of delivering 100kW, newly manufactured cars can travel approximately 120 miles with just a 20-minute charging session.
The speed at which charging occurs has seen a significant increase, multiplying by a factor of five in recent years, driven by engineers shifting their focus towards electric vehicles as the forefront of transportation technology.
Although the pace of refuelling for EVs has not yet matched the swiftness of filling up a petrol tank, customised EV fleets can be designed and implemented to align seamlessly with your business operations.
They are a Fire Risk
One fear is the claim that electric cars are more likely to catch fire than petrol and diesel cars.
Newspaper headlines have stated that lithium-ion batteries are dangerous. This has sparked safety concerns for those yet to switch to EVs.
But this is far from the truth.
Data from Sweden has highlighted 23 EV fire incidents (which is 0.004% of Sweden’s 611,000 electric cars).
This is in comparison with 34,000 fires from 4.4 million petrol and diesel cars (0.08%)
This means that electric cars are 20 times less likely to result in fires.
Furthermore, thanks to car manufacturers developing more resilient anti-fire functions in newer models, EV fires continue to decrease.
With just 20 reported EV fires a year over a three-year period, the likelihood of your car filling up with smoke mid-journey is highly unlikely.
It is clear that many of the misconceptions surrounding electric cars are simply untrue.
The concerns about range limitations, environmental impact, and overall performance of EVs are often based on outdated information or misunderstandings.
By debunking these myths, we hope to pave the way for a greater acceptance and adoption of electric vehicles.
As technology continues to evolve and infrastructure improves, electric cars are becoming an increasingly viable and sustainable mode of transportation.