Are they too expensive and complicated? Many drivers are still skeptical about purchasing an electric car, although the concerns are mostly unfounded. In this post, we would get to the bottom of the electric car myths and show what is really the electric cars provide for our society at large.
Electric car Myth #1: Electric cars are expensive
Ridiculously high prices, high energy consumption, high maintenance costs: these are the prejudices that still persist. In fact, electric cars are currently somewhat more expensive to buy than diesel or gasoline-powered models – government subsidies, tax breaks and the low operating costs offset these one-off additional costs after a few years. After that, you can really save with an e-car: drivers of e-cars usually pay less than half to get from A to B than owners of combustion engines.
Another plus point for the e-car: the maintenance costs are around a third lower than for cars with internal combustion engines. For example, brake pads wear out more slowly, and there is no need to change oil or filters.
Some e-vehicles are already cheaper today than comparable combustion engines, and the e-car even promises to be even more profitable in the future. In the last seven years alone, battery prices have fallen by 80 percent.
Electric car Myth # 2: The range of electric cars is too low
The actual range of an e-car depends on many different factors, such as the battery performance, the load, the driving style and the vehicle model.
For the most electric cars is thus yields range between 150 and 500 kilometers. With an electric vehicle, you usually don’t get as far as with a conventional diesel or gasoline engine. In everyday life, however, this hardly plays a role for most drivers, as they rarely cover more than 100 kilometers a day.
Electric car Myth # 3: Electric cars cause more CO 2 than burners
Lmao! Such a myth that is! The fact is: the manufacture of electric vehicles, especially batteries, actually requires more energy than the manufacture of combustion engines. Over their life cycle, however, they cause 70 to 90 percent less CO 2 emissions than gasoline or diesel engines.
The decisive factor is how environmentally friendly the energy is that is used for production and whether the electric vehicles are then run on green electricity or not. This is already possible today if drivers of e-cars conclude appropriate green electricity tariffs. Because then as much electricity from renewable sources is guaranteed to be fed in as is used.
Electric car Myth # 4: There aren’t enough charging stations for electric cars
Except you live in Africa like me, I won’t understand this myth. Most owners of e-cars conveniently charge the batteries at home overnight – this often means that there is no need to refuel on the go. Of course, not everyone has the option of installing a charging facility at home. However, various solutions are currently being developed for lantern parkers and there are tariffs on the market that can be used to charge cheaply on the go.
In addition, more and more employers are offering the option of filling up e-cars during working hours if necessary. If you then have to recharge on the go, there are thousands of charging stations in developed countries. There are various apps such as Interchange or E.ON Drive show where to find them. Nevertheless, it is undisputed that the charging infrastructure still needs to be expanded with e-car charging stations, which is why new charging points are being worked on every day. With a bit of planning, it is therefore already possible today to take long journeys by e-car.
Electric car Myth # 5: Charging is complicated and takes a long time
It is true that charging an electric car today still takes significantly longer than a quick stop with the combustion engine at the gas station. However, there are already ultra-fast charging stations that fully charge compatible vehicles with long ranges within just 20 minutes. 400 to 500 kilometers are then possible. This comes close to the common gasoline engine and you have time for a short refreshment. In the near future, however, things could look different: The next generation of ultra-fast chargers is already in the starting blocks, and the charging process will then only take a few minutes.
At normal charging stations, modern batteries can also be recharged to 80 percent within 30 minutes, for example when you are shopping. And that is anything but complicated: Apps not only show the way to the next free charging station but also which connector variants it is equipped with.
Electric car Myth # 6: Electric cars are dangerous
So is everything in this goddamn earth! Even as children we all learn: electricity is dangerous – just don’t put it in the socket! Electricity in connection with water is also a real death trap and everyone knows the crime novels in which the running hair dryer plops into the bathtub as a murder weapon. Some people tend to transfer this awareness of dangers to e-cars. Two obstacles are in the foreground:
- Charging in the rain Put
a plug in the socket when it rains – isn’t that dangerous? No, charging in rain and wet conditions are completely harmless, provided that the batteries and charging station complies with the standard. The current only flows when contact is fully established.
- Driving e-cars in storms
Doesn’t such an electric motor magically attract lightning? And what if it gets wet – there’s electricity in it. No, e-cars are no bigger lightning magnets than other vehicles. And even if lightning should strike: The principle of the Faraday cage remains unaffected by the electric drive. You don’t have to be afraid of getting wet with an electric car. You can safely drive through puddles and open the hood even when it rains.
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Electric car Myth # 7: Electric cars are slow
**Laugh in Telsa! **
There is still a persistent misconception that electric cars are mainly suitable for city traffic because you can’t drive that fast anyway. Current sports car models from manufacturers such as BMW or Tesla have proven that even e-cars can accelerate from 0 to 100 km / h in under 5 seconds and conjure up a speed of 250 km / h on the speedometer – even without the loud noise Roar of an internal combustion engine.
By the way: The fastest motorcycle in the world is electric. *wink
Electric car Myth # 8: The electric car concept is still in its infancy
Many consumers fear that the technologies in the electric car are not fully developed because the electric car has not been around long enough. In fact, the electric vehicle is the old man among mobility concepts and even older than the classic car with a combustion engine.
The first electric vehicle was developed by Scottish inventor Robert Anderson in the 1830s. In Germany, there was a four-wheeled electric carriage in 1888 on the streets, which is considered to be the world’s first electric car. It was not until the early 20th century that electric vehicles were replaced by vehicles with internal combustion engines.
The e-car has been experiencing a renaissance since the 1990s: New technologies in the field of electric drives and batteries, as well as increasing environmental awareness, mean that the electric car is currently gaining in importance.
Bonus Myth: All electric cars are ugly
Some drivers also complain that all electric cars are ugly. It is well known that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Presumably, this statement is primarily related to the first series models of major car manufacturers, which with their futuristic designs did not meet everyone’s taste.
In the meantime, however, all major car brands have electric versions of their series models on offer or in the planning stage, and one or the other oldie is already driving electric today. The designs offer such a wide variety that there is something for every driver.