Your EV mythbusting guide

Range anxiety is still one of the biggest issues that prevents people from making the switch to EVs. But here’s the thing: the average car journey in England is under 100 miles, and the average range of an EV is more than 200 miles – meaning that most of your day-to-day journeys will be covered. 

 

When planning longer journeys, it’s easier than ever to incorporate a quick charge into your pit stop along with a comfort break and a bite to eat. That’s because, these days, most service stations offer a number of rapid and ultra-rapid charge points. So, even if you have a lengthy commute or are planning on using your EV for cross-country drives, you’ll be covered. All you need to do is choose an EV with the right capacity to suit your lifestyle. 

It’s true that a home charger is the most convenient option, but you don’t have to have one. And not having one won’t stop you from owning an EV. More and more charge points are popping up in lots of accessible places, such as supermarkets, hotels, garden centres and even on street lampposts. In fact, the government is also planning to increase the number of public charging points in the UK to 300,000, with 6,000 on motorways and major A roads by 2035. This means you’ll never be too far from a public charging point.  

 

You may also find that your employer is considering charge points at your workplace. With over 2,000 new charge points being added to the network every month, charging in the UK is becoming easier than ever. 

That’s not necessarily true. Many EVs are known for their quick acceleration and instant torque, which can make them faster than traditional combustion engine vehicles. 

 

As EVs don’t have gears, their 0-60mph pace is superior to regular cars. Though it will feel extremely smooth, they reach peak torque as soon as you step on the accelerator (unlike internal combustion engines that may require time to build up power).  

Technically, most EVs do take longer to charge than filling up a tank of petrol or diesel. But a current EV can take as little as 10 minutes or up to 12 hours to fully charge – it all depends on the charge point you’re using and the size of your vehicle’s battery.  

 

Many public charge points will take you from 0% to 80% in under three hours. Though it’s unlikely you’ll ever be charging from 0% when out and about, you’re likely to only need a quick top up while you grab a coffee or something to eat.  

 

Remember, the majority of charging you do is likely to be done whilst your asleep at home, or busy at work. For many, it’s unlikely that having to charge at a motorway service station becomes the norm, meaning you’ll have the freedom to get on with other things while your battery is getting it’s fix. Also, battery technology is improving all the time so there will be faster charging speeds available in the not too distant future, for sure. 

While it’s true that EV batteries can experience some level of self-discharge, the rate is minimal. If your EV is sitting around not being used for an extended period, there isn’t going to be a significant loss of charge. The battery is designed to protect capacity, so you needn’t worry about losing charge when you go on holiday and leave your vehicle behind. The only time you might see a difference is when there’s a long period of very hot weather. So, if you are treating yourself to a well-earned break, it’s good practice to leave at least 40% of charge left on the battery before you jet off. That way, you’ll have plenty of range to get home on your return, if your airport car park doesn’t offer a ‘charge while you’re away’ service. 

With 90% fewer moving parts, EVs generally have lower maintenance costs compared to combustion engine cars. They don’t need oil changes, spark plug replacements or complex transmission systems, all of which can be costly. There’s also no hard evidence that tyres wear quicker. Regenerative braking reduces wear and extends brake life, meaning that brake pad repairs or replacements are less frequent too.  

 

Of course, EVs will still require occasional maintenance like changing windshield wipers, but that’s standard for all vehicles. It will vary depending on the make and model, as well as the region and service provider, but generally EVs tend to cost less to maintain. They are also less likely to break down than petrol or diesel cars. Again, that’s down to fewer moving parts meaning there’s not as much chance for things to go wrong. 

That’s not true – they can tow or be towed. But like all vehicles, EVs must be “type approved” to legally tow, providing you don’t exceed the tow capacity. Make sure you check the specifications before you purchase your EV or set off on your journey.  

 

When being towed, we recommend you place your EV on a flatbed truck. That’s because EVs don’t have a neutral gear, so they can’t be lifted and towed on two wheels in the usual way for a significant amount of time. 

 

If your EV breaks down and is in immediate danger (in a live traffic lane, for example), it can be towed slowly over a short distance to a safe location, where you can wait for further assistance.  

This may have been true at some point, but not anymore. As of July 2019, the law requires all electric and hybrid vehicles to emit artificial noise when driving at low speeds. And when driving at higher speeds, noise is generated by the sound of the car’s tyres or by wind resistance, so there’s no need to worry about pedestrians being unable to hear you coming.  

This is simply false. EVs have robust safety measures in place, and they are no more likely to catch on fire than their petrol or diesel counterparts. All vehicles – including EVs – undergo rigorous safety testing to ensure they are up to standard, otherwise it would be illegal to sell them. The battery packs are designed to withstand shock caused by collisions. And if the EV was to catch on fire, the battery would take longer to catch alight, giving passengers more time to leave the vehicle. 

That’s false. The UK has one of the largest and most capable charging networks in Europe, with more than 75,700 charge point connectors (as of August 2023) dotted around the country with more popping up every day. So, even if you don’t have the luxury of a private driveway, there’s always a way to charge your vehicle. Plus, whether you’re in rural Wales or central Manchester, handy resources such as Zapmap or the Alphabet App can help you find and navigate to your nearest one. 

With different chargers requiring a variety of apps or payment methods, they have gained a reputation for being complex. But things are changing. 

 

Many charge point operators are working to ensure you don’t need to download an app to access their service. Some use a QR code on the charger, and new government regulations mean that soon, public chargers will be required to allow you to simply tap your contactless card and start charging. 

 

Plus, many providers have signed up to Zap-Pay, a single-app payment system that uses a credit or debit card to pay for charging – and, some manufacturers have begun to offer their own all-encompassing apps with similar capabilities, such as My BMW. These end the hassle of needing multiple apps to locate charging points, making it much easier to plan a journey or find a place to charge on-the-go. It is worth noting though, that many charge point operators (CPOs) are offering benefits for app users, including discounted rates. If you use a certain type of charger regularly, downloading their app could be worth your time. 

 

Plus, now that essentially every EV is using Type 2 cables, plugging in is simple. No need for adapters. For more information on charging, check out our in-depth charging guide.  

There will always be a sense of frustration if your chosen charge point isn’t operating. But this is also true of petrol stations, which can close for hours at a time in order to restock fuel. Services like Zapmap can help you find working chargers. Broken chargers can be reported, so other people don’t use them, and repair teams can fix the issue. 

 

While there will always be some chargers that aren’t in operation, either via damage or a loss of connection, the government is pushing for a 99% operational rate across the network. While this could still mean hundreds of chargers across the nation are inoperable, chances are, you’ll find them in good working order.  

 

Plus, even if one is broken in the bank you use, the others should be working. And since most people are in-and-out between 30 minutes to an hour, there’s no need to worry about waiting in an endless queue and you’ll usually only need to wait up to 10 mins to get connected.  

If there’s a power cut in your area, you may experience a temporary impact on your charging capacity. However, once the power resumes, you’ll be able to continue charging your EV as normal. Unless you’re experiencing a multi-day blackout, your vehicle shouldn’t be adversely affected, since it’s unlikely you’ll ever have 0% charge. 

False. Current legislation bans people from disposing of EV batteries in landfills. Plus, vehicle manufacturers have additional obligations to uphold. The reality is, many batteries are already being repurposed and re-used. For instance, when batteries are no longer able to be used in vehicles, the remaining energy can be used to store solar and wind energy. Another alternative is the batteries can be broken down into the more valuable elements contained within, such as lead, nickel and cobalt. Either way, these batteries will go on to have a second life. 

Did you know there’s actually more cobalt in your mobile phone than in many EV batteries? In addition, the refining process for petroleum uses cobalt too. 

 

This aside, the use of raw materials is an issue that’s already being addressed. Usage has already been dramatically reduced, with many batteries now being made from more easily accessible materials. Several global initiatives are also now in place to improve mining labour practices for EV batteries. 

 

Considerable investments have been made to mine and refine locally, with the aim of reducing the overall impact and creating local business opportunities. Interested in learning more about sustainable EV battery materials? Find out about Cornish Lithium here. 

While hydrogen mobility solutions may be another option in the future, it’s currently far more energy-intensive to produce. What’s more, as an energy source, it’s far less efficient too. 

 

Whilst hydrogen is an exciting concept, it’s currently far from a practical reality. However, it has significant potential, and building blocks are in place to explore just what’s possible.