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The rise of electric cars has revolutionised the automotive industry but it has brought with it a lot of questions about what the actual benefits are of going electric, and of course, this has led to a lot of myths around electric vehicles which we will dispel in this article.
The first myth we will cover is that drivers are concerned that electric cars don’t have the capacity to drive a long distance. This is also known as range anxiety. Fortunately, modern electric cars boast long ranges that will be more than enough for the 140-mile average distance driven by UK motorists.
As you’ll see from this range of electric models on offer they all offer you a range on a full charge that is far more than you’ll need in an average week of driving. This shows that concerns over range are not as valid as you may believe.
This data also debunks the idea that electric cars are only for the cities or for those with short commutes.
Concerns around charging your EV are another area that can be a barrier to some drivers going electric. But this is also untrue. While charging at home on a dedicated charging solution will always be the most effective solution, there are many ways to keep your battery charged and you on the road.
Data from Zap-Map shows there are almost 44,000 chargers over 16,000 locations throughout the UK. These chargers are made up of an array of charging solutions that includes destination chargers at gyms, supermarkets, and businesses that have had chargers installed. Many businesses have chargers installed for employees. Businesses also get support from the government from the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) making it very cost-effective to get one installed.
There are also on-street charging points in urban environments. These are often free but have low output. On the other end of the scale, there are ultra-rapid 150kW charging points. These charge your battery in no time at all. Perfect for those on long journeys where one full charge won’t do it.
All of this together means that you don’t need a driveway to own an electric car. With the mileage, you’ll typically have to drive on a day to day basis being far lower than the full charge you’ll be able to just top up your battery once per week. Like when you are going for a weekly shop or at work if your employer has installed workplace chargers.
Also, if you are concerned about misjudging the amount of charge required to complete your journey you’ll be relieved to learn that the AA offers electric car breakdown cover at no extra cost. They will tow you to a charging point or your destination, whichever is closer.
Some believe that electric cars are sluggish, slow, and can’t rival petrol and diesel models when it comes to performance. This again is untrue.
A study by Car and Driver found that on average electric vehicles are only 0.4 seconds slower than a petrol or diesel counterpart going from 0 - 60mph. However, if your looking at going from 30 - 50mph is one second faster in an electric vehicle. These findings strengthen the idea that electric vehicles thrive in cities. Catching the lights or overtaking is not going to be a problem if you are driving an electric vehicle.
Another myth that we will dispel is that electric vehicles are far more expensive than their petrol counterparts. While there can be elements of truth to this it is not the case overall. There are a few components to consider on this one with ownership, running costs, and maintenance.
First up we will tackle ownership. Of course, the price of buying an electric car is greater than going for a petrol or diesel model. There are many points that allow it to swing in favour of electric models.
EVs depreciate at a lower rate than traditional ICE cars. This is thanks to the increasing popularity of electric vehicles. Which will only grow as time passes. Of course, your electric car will still depreciate and some models are worse than others. It is best to learn about how much you can expect this to be when researching your next electric car.
Then there are the running costs day to day. Insurance will be similar as well as road tax but where electric vehicles shine is that you don’t have to pay for fuel. That is if you opt for a fully electric vehicle and not a hybrid or plug-in hybrid car which would still have an ICE. Charging an electric car over petrol or diesel is around a third of the cost. Since the saving here is a constant one you’ll benefit from for many years to come it will eat into the overall price difference between petrol or diesel cars and an EV. Lowering the overall cost of a car for as long as you drive an electric car.
Lastly, there is maintenance. As electric cars don’t have as many working parts inside there is much less that can go wrong. It’s as simple as that. You’ll still want to book your EV in for service annually but this can also help bridge the cost difference between electric cars and traditional models.
Another opinion held by some is that electric vehicles are no better for the environment than petrol or diesel models. Like the other myths covered in this article, the also isn’t true.
With no tailpipe, totally electric cars don’t produce carbon dioxide while driving greatly reducing their impact on air pollution. Electric cars do give us far cleaner streets. Driving an electric car for around a year can save about 1.5 million grams of CO2.
Even when taking into account production and the electricity that it takes to run them EVs they do emit fewer greenhouse gasses and air pollutants.
Another prevalent myth around how environmentally friendly electric cars are, but fortunately, it’s totally untrue. Electric batteries have a life of around a decade before they will need to be replaced. This will be a concern as the number of EVs on the road rockets over the next few years.
The good news is that electric batteries are highly recyclable. Around 90% of the cell can be recovered. This industry will grow at a rapid pace over the next several years. EU’s Battery Directive ensures that a minimum of 50% of the battery must be recycled. Altogether this means that electric batteries are not so bad after all.
Some believe that they will be able to avoid driving an electric vehicle and stick with petrol or diesel cars. While at the moment this is true but as time goes on this will become more and more challenging to justify or even by incoming regulations.
A study by Bloomberg predicted that by 2027 the cost of an electric vehicle will be far cheaper than a petrol or diesel model. This coupled with the running cost reductions will make it incredibly attractive for motorists.
Then there is the ban on new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 by the UK government. This bold step toward a cleaner, and more environmentally friendly Great Britain. At this point, the only way you will be able to get a hold of a car that runs on petrol or diesel will be on the used market.
The next milestone already planned is that the UK is aspiring to become the first major economy to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. By this point, buying a petrol or diesel car will likely be a thing of the past.
Hopefully, this article has dispelled many myths about electric vehicles, their impact on the environment and the costs of running them.
They really do make a huge impact on the environment and will play a pivotal role in the UK’s cleaner, less polluted future.
So, what are you waiting for? Make your next car electric.
