Electric vehicles are relatively new, which is why it is not surprising that there is a lot of misinformation about them. The effect of these myths is that many people have decided to stick with their ICE vehicles for now, while some others have incorrect expectations for their new EV’s. However, in this article, I will clear up some myths about battery-powered vehicles.
Myth 1: EVs don’t have enough driving range and will leave you stranded on a cold lonely night in the middle of nowhere
Many people think electric vehicles are anemic and give up after a few miles. Due to this, some potential EV buyers conclude that electric cars won’t fit into their everyday lives. This is false because virtually all modern electric cars can handle the distance the average driver covers in a day. If you live in the US, you drive 30 miles per day on average. However, one of the most affordable EVs, the Nissan Leaf, has a driving range of more than 150 miles. This means you can drive for several days without ever plugging in to charge. The Hyundai Kona Electric lasts even longer, at 238 miles. This is more than adequate for your daily driving needs.
Myth 2: EVs are slow
This cannot be further from the truth. Due to using an electric motor instead of an internal combustion engine, EVs have instant torque that makes them leap from a stationary position to motion in a fraction of a second. In fact, if you stop at a red light beside an EV, chances are the battery-powered car will leave you behind when the light changes!
The Tesla Model S PLAID can go from 0 to 60 mph in under 2 seconds, which is more than adequate for the speed demons out there.
Myth 3: EVs catch fire easily
Some people (and the media) spread the thought that EVs are more than likely to burst into flames because of their batteries. They usually support this by citing reports of EV fires on the news. This, however, is another myth because EVs combust far less than ICE cars do. The difference is in how EV fires are reported in the news. They usually get sensationalized because of their still-novelty status. The truth is that, statistically, you are safer in an EV than in a gas-powered car which is essentially a tank of highly flammable liquid with wheels.
Myth 4: It is hard to find places to charge your EV
While it is true that the EV charging infrastructure is not yet as mature as that of ICE refueling, this does not affect the user experience in any appreciable way. Most EV owners charge at home, which is more convenient than going to a filling station for fuel. Moreover, many governments worldwide are making policies to move towards and provide more charging equipment, both for private and public settings, meaning things will surely get better for EV charging moving forward.
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