5 EV myths that I believe ought to die ahead of later

It ought to come as no shock that EV gross sales have risen over 10% each year since 2014, and though they may not attain that quantity in 2026 as a result of tax credits ending in September, there are nonetheless some on the market which can be not sure concerning the validity of the platform.

I’ve my very own opinions about how these firms are working, however there isn’t 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 effectively over a decade in the past now. A fantasy is outlined as a “broadly held however false perception or concept.” If we need to have a superb dialogue round EVs, these 5 myths have to die a fast demise ahead of 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 am going to grant that that is warranted. In spite of everything, no person desires to go swimming throughout a lightning storm for an excellent motive, 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. Certain, I’ve welded just a few rear differentials in my time, and people have been sketchy within the rain at finest, 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 would possibly suppose, although. In a really stunning examine, nearly 20 percent 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 with no charger”

They’re extra accessible than you would possibly suppose

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

Arguably the perfect factor about proudly owning an EV, although, is you could merely decide to cost it your self at dwelling. Some firms provide free home charger installation with the acquisition of an EV, however even in the event you do must pay for one out-of-pocket, it certain beats the long-term cash you will spend on conventional gasoline going from place to put.

3

“EVs are slower than gasoline 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 numerous time there, I so need this to be true. Nonetheless, actuality has different concepts, as EVs are far and away extra spectacular than their inside combustion counterparts at nearly each flip. The true efficiency magnificence comes when molding the 2 collectively, equivalent to what’s being done right now in Formula One, however when it is a straight-up head-to-head contest between electrical and gasoline energy, there actually is not any competitors.

Electrical energy wins that match-up extra instances than not. It takes severe firepower to stack as much as even primary ranges of EV acceleration, and that is earlier than moving into the high-performance fashions just like the Tesla Model S, Lucid Air or the Rimac line. As an example, Carwow posted a video not too long ago of a Kia EV6 GT, which is under no circumstances 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 bought proof.

4

“Chilly climate kills your vary”

These aren’t AAA batteries we’re speaking about

This one is additional down the checklist as a result of, admittedly, freezing temperatures do hamper the EV vary, however not almost as a lot as some naysayers would have you ever suppose. Very like the block heaters in pickup trucks, most EV firms now launch automobiles with warmth pump expertise to maximise vary below even essentially the most strenuously chilly circumstances. We have talked about this issue before, and there may be loads of room to work round.

In a Recurrent study, researchers discovered that on fashions with warmth pumps put in, the utmost vary dropped by round simply 10 % on a few of the hottest EV fashions available on the market, just like the Tesla Mannequin X and Mannequin S. Whereas some lower-tier automobiles just like the Volkswagen ID.4 did see a extra important drop-off, it wasn’t examined with a warmth pump. Merely put, in the event you reside in an space of the nation that frequently sees freezing temperatures within the winter months, purchase an EV with a warmth pump, and the issue will primarily repair itself. You probably 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’ll be able to’t tow with an EV”

One take a look at torque figures will inform a a lot completely different story

For some time, EVs have been restricted to the sedan and SUV house, which led some to imagine that towing with an EV was a futile enterprise. Nonetheless, that might not be farther from the reality in 2025. Actually, there at the moment are manufacturers available on the market, 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 Basic Motors and Ford additionally produce full-sized pickup vans in EV type now with astounding torque figures.

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

I am undecided how far more proof we’d like 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 huge strides in direction of being a extra consumer-friendly possibility off the lot. I am under no circumstances 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.