Electro mobility is gaining more and more interest: According to the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW), more than 17.5 million vehicles will already be in use worldwide in 2022, and the trend curve in sales figures continues to point steeply upwards.
This year, 6 million more eCars were sold worldwide than in the previous year. Demand is high and in response many car manufacturers are announcing further massive investments in battery technology and eMobility.
But with this technological shift, some misinformation has become entrenched in the public mind. We present 7 of the biggest myths about electric mobility and subject them to a thorough fact check:
Myth 1: Electric vehicles (EVs) are expensive to buy.
Fact: It is true that electric vehicles are more expensive to buy than cars with internal combustion engines, but tax breaks, subsidies and low operating and maintenance costs offset the extra cost of purchase within a few years. For example, the operating and maintenance costs of an electric vehicle are around 50 % lower. Electric drives have fewer vehicle parts that wear out quickly, such as the clutch and gearbox, which can therefore be used for much longer. In addition, there is no need for oil changes and exhaust emission tests.
Myth 2: Battery production is not climate friendly.
Fact: The production of batteries for electric cars has an extremely low CO₂ balance compared to conventional vehicles. A study by the Vienna University of Technology shows that the CO₂ emissions per kWh produced by battery manufacturers are about a third lower than those of conventional car manufacturers. Moreover, most battery manufacturers have taken measures to further reduce their CO₂ emissions.
Myth 3: The electric car market is not stable.
Fact: The market for electric cars is already pretty stable. There are already more than 17.5 million electric cars in use worldwide, and many more are expected to be sold every year. It is a very dynamically growing market, leading to increasing scaling effects and lower costs for manufacturers. In addition, the number of charging stations is increasing rapidly, which helps to make eVehicles even more attractive to consumers.
Myth 4: Charging an electric car at home is too expensive and too complicated.
Fact: Many households in Germany already have a private charging station installed on their property. The installation costs for this are usually covered by the federal states or municipalities as part of subsidy programmes for electromobility. The electricity used for charging is also often subsidised by the legislator or energy suppliers if it comes from renewable sources such as solar or wind energy. At the same time, an extensive public charging network already exists, at places of daily use such as shopping centres, car parks, supermarkets and petrol stations. Some companies also offer charging stations directly on company premises for employees with electric vehicles.
Myth 5: Solar panels will never provide enough power for an electric car.
Fact: Although solar panels only generate electricity during daylight hours, they can produce enough energy during the day for many households and small businesses – including e-car charging stations. Moreover, by combining solar cells and battery storage systems, it is possible to have self-generated, green electricity available 24 hours a day. In this case, the excess energy generated by the solar cells during the day is stored for later use at night or in cloudy weather.
Myth 6: Electrification of transport does not reduce pollution because electricity generation still relies heavily on fossil fuels such as coal-fired power plants.
Fact: In reality, eMobility is one of the most effective ways to reduce CO₂ emissions from transport because it allows us to use renewable energy sources like wind and solar power instead of fossil fuels. According to the Federal Environment Agency, greenhouse gas emissions are to be reduced by at least 65% by 2030.
Myth 7: For commuters or long distances, electric cars are not worthwhile.
Fact: A widespread fear is that one will not be able to cover longer distances with an electric car because there are too few charging stations available along the way. There is also uncertainty that charging processes may lead to long, unwanted waiting times. However, with the increasing number of charging stations along major roads in Europe and other parts of the world, this is no longer the case – there is no risk of an eCar being left with an empty battery. Regarding the duration of a charging process, filling up an e-car naturally takes longer compared to filling up an internal combustion vehicle at a conventional filling station. A change of perspective helps here: the charging time of 20 to 30 minutes at a fast-charging station can be used to take a short break, stretch one’s legs or drink a cup of coffee – quite a welcome change, especially on longer journeys.
In addition, as technology and production methods continue to improve, the performance of the batteries is getting better every year. The batteries in today’s eCars provide enough power for daily commuting. Most eVehicles achieve an average range of 300 to 400 kilometres on a full charge.
The future is electric!
Electrically powered vehicles make an important contribution to the future of mobility and to preserving the environment. On the one hand, the current subsidy programmes offer great purchase incentives and charging an eCar is still significantly cheaper than filling up with fossil fuels, despite the currently very high electricity prices.
For another, an electric vehicle is the much more environmentally friendly choice compared to a conventional combustion engine – especially if care is taken to ensure that the electricity you fill up with comes from renewable sources or even use your own green energy sources such as solar panels.
Ultimately, electric vehicles offer more power with less fuel consumption, less noise and a more pleasant driving experience. It is time to embrace this technology and use it for the long-term benefit of the environment.
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