Misconceptions About Electric Vehicles

As sales of electric vehicles (EVs) dramatically rise, having more than doubled in 2021 in comparison to 2020, and motor companies invest substantially in batteries and EVs, the shift from petrol to electric-powered vehicles appears increasingly imminent.

Nevertheless, misconceptions persist amidst this exhilarating technological transition. Here are seven of the most prominent fallacies concerning EVs.

1. Electric cars will invariably be more costly.

The initial cost of electric vehicles has consistently reduced since the beginning of the 21st century, nearing cost parity with petrol vehicles.

Prices of lithium-ion batteries have fallen by 97% since 1991, and there's potential for further reduction as research continues to improve the technology and mass production accelerates. Estimates from the UK Department for Transport and Auto Express magazine suggest that considering the price, maintenance, financing, repairs, government grants, and fuel costs, EVs can already be cheaper than their petrol counterparts over the vehicle's lifespan.

Vauxhall recently announced that its 2023 Corsa-e will start at a price of ￡19,895, and the CEO of Ford UK, Jim Farley, predicts that a price war is imminent, likely to drastically decrease prices.

2. Electric cars will strain the grid.

A prevalent myth is that the UK's ageing and brittle power grid will be unable to cope with the surge in demand from electric vehicles.

Energy experts from the country's top institutions dispute this, explaining that if all cars and lorries were electric, demand would only increase by around 25%, a change that would occur gradually over many years or even decades, providing enough time for energy suppliers to adjust and enhance supply.

3. EV batteries aren't durable.

A recent survey indicated that approximately 46% of potential EV buyers believed that battery packs wouldn't last 65,000 miles. This perception dramatically underestimates the actual longevity, which exceeds even the warranties that most manufacturers provide on an EV's battery.

The fact is, based on the performance of EVs that have been on the roads for a decade, EV batteries can be expected to maintain at least 80% of their capacity for around 200,000 miles of driving.

Real-world data from Tesla Model S vehicles suggest an initial 5% drop in capacity over the first 50,000 miles, followed by another 5% drop over the next 150,000 miles.

4. Electric cars' range is insufficient.

The median range of an EV sold in the UK is around 240 miles. Given that 99% of all journeys are under 100 miles, and the average driver travels about 40 miles per day, existing EVs can comfortably meet the daily needs of most drivers.

However, the charging infrastructure along UK motorways is still limited. Coupled with high-speed travel and cold temperatures, which can reduce an EV’s range by up to 40%, multi-day road trips can still present challenges.

The overall conclusion is that for households with multiple cars, range should not be an obstacle to owning at least one EV.

5.Charging will always be too time-consuming.

The time required for fast-charging EVs has significantly reduced, with current models being able to charge from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes.

Innovative battery designs ready for commercialisation promise to halve that charging time to under ten minutes, making charging more convenient on long trips.

However, most people can charge at home, work, or in parking areas, with no need for fast-charging for their everyday driving needs.

6. Recycling EV batteries will be unfeasible.

Experts anticipate that in about a decade, used lithium batteries will start to accumulate, necessitating a recycling solution.

Approximately a hundred companies are exploring and commercialising their own methods, suggesting that a viable, economical option may be forthcoming.

A more straightforward, less taxing alternative could prevail: repurposing used car batteries for power grid storage systems. In this application, batteries’ diminished capacity is irrelevant, as more can always be added.

7. Electric vehicles are more harmful to the environment.

EVs are fundamentally more efficient than petrol-powered vehicles. While a petrol engine only converts around 20% of petrol's stored energy to power at the wheels, an EV motor converts about 60% to 77% of the energy from the battery. This means that even on a coal-powered grid, EVs are better for the environment than petrol cars.

Some critics argue that considering the environmental impact of an EV’s production, including mining the materials for the battery, their advantage diminishes. This is patently incorrect. Multiple life cycle analyses demonstrate that EVs have a greener supply chain, mainly due to requiring fewer parts to build.

When it comes to environmental impact, EVs vastly outperform petrol-powered vehicles, and it isn't even a close contest.