5 EV myths that I feel ought to die prior to later

It ought to come as no shock that EV gross sales have risen over 10% annually since 2014, and despite the fact that they won’t attain that quantity in 2026 resulting from tax credit ending in September, there are nonetheless some on the market which might be uncertain concerning the validity of the platform.

I’ve my very own opinions about how these corporations are working, however there is not any denying that, as a day-to-day car, EV automobiles are a accountable buy. Nonetheless, there are some on the market who nonetheless imagine some issues that weren’t even true again when EVs first hit the market nicely over a decade in the past now. A fantasy is outlined as a “extensively held however false perception or thought.” If we need to have a very good dialogue round EVs, these 5 myths have to die a fast dying prior to later.

1

“EVs cannot drive within the rain”

Who would make a automobile that could not?

This primary one stems from a fairly primary worry greater than the rest — the worry of electrical energy and water in the identical house. I will grant that that is warranted. In spite of everything, no person desires to go swimming throughout a lightning storm for an excellent purpose, however in that very same vein, what producer would make a automobile that you simply could not drive within the rain? That is unnecessary to me. Positive, I’ve welded just a few rear differentials in my time, and people had been sketchy within the rain at greatest, however most EVs are on all-wheel-drive platforms, anyway. There’s fairly actually no actual distinction between utilizing a drill within the rain and what an EV does with its motors.

This worry is extra rampant than you may assume, although. In a really surprising research, practically 20 p.c of drivers thought that they could not take an EV by a automobile wash. Come on, individuals — we have got to be higher than that. No automobile firm would produce one thing that may’t be used within the rain, full cease.

2

“You will be stranded and not using a charger”

They’re extra accessible than you may assume

When EVs first hit the market, I will relent that the infrastructure merely wasn’t the place it wanted to be for the overwhelming majority of individuals. Nonetheless, that is 2025, and despite the fact that some wish to assume it hasn’t, time at all times marches on. Now, there are practically 200,000 public charging stations within the US alone, and practically each main metropolitan space has a plethora of stations the place EV house owners can cost up in a rush. Moreover, most fuel stations constructed to assist interstate journey have applied them alongside most main highways, making highway tripping in an SUV extra doable than ever earlier than.

Arguably the very best factor about proudly owning an EV, although, is which you can merely decide to cost it your self at dwelling. Some corporations supply free dwelling charger set up with the acquisition of an EV, however even should you do must pay for one out-of-pocket, it positive beats the long-term cash you will spend on conventional gasoline going from place to put.

3

“EVs are slower than fuel automobiles”

This was by no means true, and the maths backs it up

As somebody who grew up going to the racetrack, and nonetheless spends various time there, I so need this to be true. Nonetheless, actuality has different concepts, as EVs are far and away extra spectacular than their inner combustion counterparts at nearly each flip. The true efficiency magnificence comes when molding the 2 collectively, equivalent to what’s being accomplished proper now in System One, however when it is a straight-up head-to-head contest between electrical and fuel energy, there actually is not any competitors.

Electrical energy wins that match-up extra occasions than not. It takes severe firepower to stack as much as even primary ranges of EV acceleration, and that is earlier than entering into the high-performance fashions just like the Tesla Mannequin S, Lucid Air or the Rimac line. As an illustration, Carwow posted a video not too long ago of a Kia EV6 GT, which is certainly not a chart-topper by way of efficiency, beating a brand new Lamborghini in a standing 1/4 mile drag race. Do not imagine me? Then it is a good factor I’ve received proof.

4

“Chilly climate kills your vary”

These aren’t AAA batteries we’re speaking about

This one is additional down the record as a result of, admittedly, freezing temperatures do hamper the EV vary, however not practically as a lot as some naysayers would have you ever assume. Very like the block heaters in pickup vans, most EV corporations now launch automobiles with warmth pump expertise to maximise vary beneath even probably the most strenuously chilly circumstances. We have talked about this difficulty earlier than, and there’s loads of room to work round.

In a Recurrent research, researchers discovered that on fashions with warmth pumps put in, the utmost vary dropped by round simply 10 p.c on among the hottest EV fashions in the marketplace, just like the Tesla Mannequin X and Mannequin S. Whereas some lower-tier automobiles just like the Volkswagen ID.4 did see a extra vital drop-off, it wasn’t examined with a warmth pump. Merely put, should you stay in an space of the nation that often sees freezing temperatures within the winter months, purchase an EV with a warmth pump, and the issue will basically repair itself. In case you have a house charger put in alongside it, you most likely would not even discover a distinction within the efficiency of your automobile, no matter temperature.

5

“You possibly can’t tow with an EV”

One have a look at torque figures will inform a a lot totally different story

For some time, EVs had been restricted to the sedan and SUV house, which led some to imagine that towing with an EV was a futile enterprise. Nonetheless, that would not be farther from the reality in 2025. The truth is, there at the moment are manufacturers in the marketplace, like Rivian, that solely produce EV vans and SUVs designed to suit right into a extra rugged way of life than the normal EV purchaser lives. Main automotive manufacturers like Common Motors and Ford additionally produce full-sized pickup vans in EV kind now with astounding torque figures.

It is a fantasy that merely is not based in logic anymore.

I am unsure how rather more proof we want that a few of these myths have to go by the wayside. In 2025, it nonetheless appears like EVs are battling the identical issues that they did at their inception, regardless of making large strides in the direction of being a extra consumer-friendly possibility off the lot. I am certainly not the most important proponent of EVs that there’s on the planet, but when we ever need to have an actual, open dialogue about their validity, we have to get our details straight, and these 5 myths are stopping anybody from doing simply that.