5 EV myths that I feel ought to die earlier than 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 because of tax credits 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 firms are working, however there isn’t any denying that, as a day-to-day automobile, EV automobiles are a accountable buy. Nevertheless, there are some on the market who nonetheless consider some issues that weren’t even true again when EVs first hit the market properly over a decade in the past now. A fable is outlined as a “extensively held however false perception or concept.” If we wish to have a superb dialogue round EVs, these 5 myths have to die a fast dying earlier than later.

1

“EVs cannot drive within the rain”

Who would make a automobile that could not?

This primary one stems from a reasonably fundamental concern greater than the rest — the concern of electrical energy and water in the identical house. I am going to grant that that is warranted. In any case, 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 just could not drive within the rain? That is unnecessary to me. Certain, I’ve welded a number of 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 concern is extra rampant than you would possibly suppose, although. In a really stunning research, nearly 20 percent of drivers thought that they could not take an EV via a automobile wash. Come on, individuals — we have to be higher than that. No automobile firm would produce one thing that may’t be used within the rain, full cease.

2

“You may 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. Nevertheless, 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 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 road tripping in an SUV extra doable than ever earlier than.

Arguably the very best factor about proudly owning an EV, although, is that you may merely choose to cost it your self at house. Some firms supply free home charger installation with the acquisition of an EV, however even for those who do need to pay for one out-of-pocket, it certain beats the long-term cash you will spend on conventional gasoline going from place to position.

3

“EVs are slower than fuel automobiles”

This was by no means true, and the mathematics 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. Nevertheless, 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, resembling what’s being done right now in Formula 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 instances than not. It takes critical firepower to stack as much as even fundamental ranges of EV acceleration, and that is earlier than entering into the high-performance fashions just like the Tesla Model S, Lucid Air or the Rimac line. As an illustration, Carwow posted a video just lately 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 consider me? Then it is a good factor I’ve obtained 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 know-how to maximise vary beneath even probably the most strenuously chilly circumstances. We have talked about this issue before, and there’s 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 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 important drop-off, it wasn’t examined with a warmth pump. Merely put, for those who dwell 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 primarily repair itself. If in case you have a house charger put in alongside it, you in all probability 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 consider that towing with an EV was a futile enterprise. Nevertheless, that might 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 vehicles and SUVs designed to suit right into a extra rugged way of life than the standard EV purchaser lives. Main automotive manufacturers like Basic Motors and Ford additionally produce full-sized pickup vehicles in EV kind now with astounding torque figures.

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

I am unsure how way more proof we’d like that a few of these myths have to go by the wayside. In 2025, it nonetheless seems 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 largest proponent of EVs that there’s on the planet, but when we ever wish to have an actual, open dialogue about their validity, we have to get our information straight, and these 5 myths are stopping anybody from doing simply that.