True or false? – Six myths about electric vehicles

Despite their ever-growing popularity, electric cars still arouse a lot of preconceived notions. Many of these claims are considered facts even though they are based on myths and outdated information, making electric cars sound insurmountably difficult to use. The charging is expensive, the emissions huge, and the freezing winter too much for the batteries – or maybe this is not the case at all?

An electric car is not actually more eco-friendly than a car with a combustion engine

The most eco-friendly thing to do is to get a car for the right reason, whether it runs on electricity or petrol. The biggest emissions are created during the production of the electric car and especially its battery. However, compared to the emissions of a combustion engine car during its lifespan, an electric vehicle is the low-emission choice. Most of the charging happens at home, where you also have a say in the type of electricity contract and the form of production of the electricity used to charge the vehicle.

Electric cars are expensive

It is true that right now the price of electric vehicles is higher than that of combustion engine cars. The rapid growth in popularity however means that the selection of used and more affordable electric vehicles is also growing. It is also true that what you lose in the price of an electric car, you gain back in the running costs. The maintenance costs together with the cost of energy needed to drive the car are lower than those of a combustion engine car, despite the rapid increase in prices everywhere.

The charging is complicated and expensive

The lion share of the charging happens at home. Therefore, a home charging station installed by a professional quickly pay itself back not just in money but also in added peace of mind since a reliable charging station is always ready for use. The network of public charging stations is expanding all the time, and online maps showing the closest station make planning routes easier. As the charging does not require you to keep close to the car like filling up the tank does, you have for everything else. At home the battery is always full and ready to go in the morning, and on the road stopping to charge the car also means a chance to stretch, get a cup of coffee and have a break from driving.

An electric car is unsuitable for longer journeys

One of the most common arguments against electric vehicles is that they are not made for long distances. The operating radius depends not only on the model and year of manufacturing, but the weather, speed and driving style. The operating radius of the latest and modern cars can be up to 500 kilometers with one charge, which is more than enough to cover daily journeys. For longer travels it is a good idea to plan the route through public charging points. In cities an electric car is like a fish in the water as the energy created in braking is stored in the battery, expanding the operating range during use.

The winter weather is too much for the battery

The four seasons of north are as big of a strain on the battery of an electric vehicle, as they are on the engine of a combustion engine car. As the temperature drops below zero, the battery capacity decreases as its energy is needed to keep the car and the battery itself warm. Charging the battery during the night gives you optimal performance as the battery is already warm for when you set off in the morning. Separate heaters also help to take the load off the car’s battery. With small doses of organization, planning and optimizing the charging you make your electric vehicle a trustworthy partner through the frosty winter too.

An electric car needs more servicing

There are significantly fewer parts in electric cars that can wear out in use than there are in combustion engine cars. Annual check-ups such as changing the engine oil are not needed, making the maintenance interval of an electric care longer and maintenance costs lower. Since the battery is at the heart of electric driving, checking the cooling system is one of the most common maintenance procedures. Although the service interval is longer, it is still good to follow the manufacturer’s maintenance program to keep the car running and its warranty valid.