7 myths about electric cars

  • 7 myths about electric cars
     


    For many drivers, electric vehicles (EVs) still represent the cars of the future. However, numerous new battery-powered vehicles are planned for release in the coming years, meaning the future will arrive sooner than many expect.

    Those less familiar with EVs often hold outdated and incorrect beliefs about these vehicles. Let’s explore and debunk 7 common myths about EVs.

    charging stations

     

    Myth: EVs Can’t Travel Far and Batteries Drain Quickly

    On an average workday, urban residents typically drive around 50 km, following a common route: Home – School – Work – Store – School – Home. Even the most modest EVs, such as the Honda e, have a range of 201 km on a full charge. The Nissan Leaf e+ offers 384 km, and the Tesla Model 3 LR reaches 560 km. These ranges far exceed the needs of an average day, making EVs suitable for trips outside the city without much concern.

    Additionally, the expanding charging station network in Lithuania ensures you can charge your vehicle mid-journey if necessary.

     

    Myth: EVs Are Very Slow

    In reality, EVs are often faster than their gasoline-powered counterparts (though not always, but often). This is because electric motors deliver 100% of their power instantly. When an EV driver presses the accelerator, the transition from standstill to motion happens immediately. For instance, the Tesla Model S accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.5 seconds, disproving the notion that EVs are slow.

     

    Myth: EVs Are Very Expensive

    Innovations often cost more initially, but EVs are no longer unaffordable. Just like gasoline-powered cars, the latest luxury models come with high price tags. However, mid-range EVs are not more expensive than their gasoline counterparts. A quick search on popular car listing websites in Lithuania shows that a 4-6 year-old EV can be purchased for under 10,000 euros.

    Additionally, incentives are still available for purchasing EVs, further reducing their cost.

     

    Myth: EVs Are Unsafe

    As EVs are still relatively new, there’s limited data suggesting they are less safe than other vehicles. All EVs undergo rigorous safety testing without issue. Concerns about safety often focus on batteries, with fears of fires or explosions in accidents. However, studies and case analyses show that the frequency and severity of lithium-ion battery fires and explosions are comparable to, or even lower than, those in gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles.

     

    Myth: EVs Aren’t “Greener” Than Other Vehicles

    Electric motors convert 75% of the battery’s chemical energy into motion, compared to internal combustion engines, which use only 20% of the energy in gasoline. Additionally, EVs emit no direct pollutants while driving. Critics argue that EVs indirectly pollute the atmosphere through power plants generating their electricity.


    The environmental impact depends on how electricity is generated in each country. Many regions are adopting technologies for clean energy production, such as solar panels, wind turbines, and hydropower plants.

     

    Myth: EV Maintenance and Repairs Are Expensive

    It depends on perspective. Serious issues can be costly (as with any vehicle), but EVs don’t require regular oil changes. They also have fewer moving parts, which eventually fail and need replacement. EVs feature a simple single-speed transmission and lack components like spark plugs, valves, fuel tanks, mufflers, exhaust pipes, distributors, starters, clutches, drive belts, hoses, and catalytic converters. If you recall your last non-EV repair, it likely involved some of these parts.

     

    Myth: EVs Are Inconvenient Until Infrastructure Improves

    Most EVs are charged at home or work. Public charging is also available near shopping centers or rest stops along highways for longer trips. The number of charging stations in Lithuania is growing every year. Both the government and private businesses see potential investment opportunities in expanding the network. Even in Lithuania, where EVs arrived later than in Western countries, the infrastructure is sufficient to alleviate concerns about running out of charge.
      

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