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5 Reasons People Don't Buy EVs
(and why they’re wrong)
By Lindsay Martell Lindsay Martell University of San Francisco After producing television news for years—much of it centered on national and international car shows—Lindsay transitioned to freelance writing, where she quickly gravitated toward automotive technology.
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She frequently contributes to sites like AutoTrader, AutoGravity, Lending Tree, and CarMax. lifewire's editorial guidelines Published on September 28, 2021 Tweet Share Email Catherine Falls Commercial / Getty Images Tweet Share Email Electric Vehicles Buying an EV Batteries & Range Charging & Maintenance Got EV envy? Is that Tesla taunting you to bust out your wallet?
Perhaps a Nissan Leaf is begging you to take a second look. EVs are all the rage, and they have significant benefits over gasoline-powered cars.
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Harper Kim 1 minutes ago
So, what’s holding you back? For many consumers, there are a handful of reasons why electric vehic...
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David Cohen 6 minutes ago
Myth #1 EVs Can t Go Very Fast
This is pretty much bunk. Electric cars are actually qui...
So, what’s holding you back? For many consumers, there are a handful of reasons why electric vehicles can be a tough sell. We’ve got the five biggest misconceptions (and mythbuster answers) about these eco-friendly rides.
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Alexander Wang 9 minutes ago
Myth #1 EVs Can t Go Very Fast
This is pretty much bunk. Electric cars are actually qui...
Myth #1 EVs Can t Go Very Fast
This is pretty much bunk. Electric cars are actually quicker to accelerate than traditional cars, thanks to an EVs ability to generate torque (the thing that gives a car it’s ability to go forward), so it can accelerate faster than a traditional car. That being said, a gas-only powered vehicle can often have a higher top speed, but it really depends on the make and model of the car.
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Grace Liu 2 minutes ago
For example, EVs such as the Audi e-tron, Jaguar I-Pace, and the Ford Mustang Mach-E electric SUV ha...
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Chloe Santos 1 minutes ago
The more affordable and popular Nissan Leaf takes just 8.4 seconds to hit 60 mph and has a top spee...
For example, EVs such as the Audi e-tron, Jaguar I-Pace, and the Ford Mustang Mach-E electric SUV have a top speed of a whopping 124 mph. And Audi’s 2022 e-tron GT clocks in at a staggering 154 mph.
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Lily Watson 2 minutes ago
The more affordable and popular Nissan Leaf takes just 8.4 seconds to hit 60 mph and has a top spee...
The more affordable and popular Nissan Leaf takes just 8.4 seconds to hit 60 mph and has a top speed of 98 miles per hour. So, clearly, EVs have some good get up and go. Gasoline-powered cars often might have higher top speeds but EVs are actually quicker to accelerate.
Myth #2 EVs Are Dangerous
Let’s face it: In this era of distracted driving and road rage, getting behind the wheel of our car, whether EV or gas-powered, carries risk. Lots of it.
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Christopher Lee 26 minutes ago
However, if you’re wondering whether EVs themselves are dangerous, the quick answer is: probably n...
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James Smith 34 minutes ago
Lithium ion batteries are extremely high voltage, which could jumpstart a potentially dangerous proc...
However, if you’re wondering whether EVs themselves are dangerous, the quick answer is: probably not any more than a traditional car. One of the biggest concerns with EVs is the potential risk of fire.
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Aria Nguyen 17 minutes ago
Lithium ion batteries are extremely high voltage, which could jumpstart a potentially dangerous proc...
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Dylan Patel 6 minutes ago
Tesla's second annual Impact Report says electric car fires are rare. In fact, from 2012 to 2020, th...
Lithium ion batteries are extremely high voltage, which could jumpstart a potentially dangerous process called “thermal runaway.” This means the battery has become too hot and is sending heat to its surroundings, resulting in smoke, fire and potentially an explosion. Additionally, some auto industry experts have cited fast charging as potentially raising fire risks but there hasn't been any substantial data to support this theory.
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Ethan Thomas 25 minutes ago
Tesla's second annual Impact Report says electric car fires are rare. In fact, from 2012 to 2020, th...
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Joseph Kim 10 minutes ago
At this time, it’s too soon to know for sure about concrete fire risks and whether or not they are...
Tesla's second annual Impact Report says electric car fires are rare. In fact, from 2012 to 2020, the was one Tesla fire per 205 million miles traveled versus one car fire per 19 million miles traveled for all other vehicle types. While it's true that electrical fires can trigger longer-burning fires because of the size of the battery banks in the vehicle, there is plenty of longtime evidence to show that gasoline cars catch on fire as well.
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Sofia Garcia 11 minutes ago
At this time, it’s too soon to know for sure about concrete fire risks and whether or not they are...
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Andrew Wilson 5 minutes ago
EVs on the market today also boast tons of family-friendly technology, like infotainment systems wit...
At this time, it’s too soon to know for sure about concrete fire risks and whether or not they are greater than, less than, or about the same as the risks on traditional gas-powered vehicles.
Myth #3 EVs Are Too Small for a Family
Some folks mistakenly believe that EVs are sporty little rides geared more toward tech-y commuters in Silicon Valley than soccer moms in the suburbs. There are scores of EVs on the market that are roomy enough for families of all sizes, including the Kia Niro EV, Nissan Leaf, and Chevy Bolt, all of which seat 5.
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Grace Liu 24 minutes ago
EVs on the market today also boast tons of family-friendly technology, like infotainment systems wit...
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Victoria Lopez 20 minutes ago
Too small for an average family? Nah....
EVs on the market today also boast tons of family-friendly technology, like infotainment systems with smartphone integration, and USB charging ports. Add in the typical frunk and EVs even come out roomier most of the time as well.
Too small for an average family? Nah.
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Andrew Wilson 55 minutes ago
EV sizes are increasing. Seven-seater EVs are in development now and a school district in San Diego ...
EV sizes are increasing. Seven-seater EVs are in development now and a school district in San Diego County has begun replacing diesel-powered school buses with electric buses.
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Lucas Martinez 38 minutes ago
Myth #4 Charging an EV Is Too Expensive Takes Too Long or Is Too Much Hassle
OK, so the...
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Amelia Singh 15 minutes ago
Yes, it can take a little time, and yes, it can be a hassle—but only if you don’t understand wha...
Myth #4 Charging an EV Is Too Expensive Takes Too Long or Is Too Much Hassle
OK, so there may be a little bit of a learning curve when it comes to charging an EV. Yes, you need to charge it on a regular, if not daily, basis.
Yes, it can take a little time, and yes, it can be a hassle—but only if you don’t understand what’s required of you as the owner of an electric vehicle. Once you understand the basics, however, it’s not any more of a hassle than waiting in line at the nearest Chevron station, waiting to gas up.
Let’s tackle the ‘expensive to charge’ argument first. The Alternative Fuels Data Center explains the cost like this: If electricity costs $0.13 per kilowatt-hours (kWh) and the vehicle consumes 33 kWh to travel 100 miles, the cost per mile is about $0.04.
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Zoe Mueller 3 minutes ago
If electricity costs $0.13 per kilowatt-hour, charging an EV with a 200-mile range (assuming a fully...
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Sebastian Silva 47 minutes ago
. . it can take time to charge an EV at home but if you’re sleeping while it happens, who cares?...
If electricity costs $0.13 per kilowatt-hour, charging an EV with a 200-mile range (assuming a fully depleted 66 kWh battery) will cost about $9 to reach a full charge. That doesn’t seem like much to fully recharge, especially with the national gas price hovering around $3.15 per gallon this summer. So, yes .
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Sofia Garcia 73 minutes ago
. . it can take time to charge an EV at home but if you’re sleeping while it happens, who cares?...
. . it can take time to charge an EV at home but if you’re sleeping while it happens, who cares?
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Emma Wilson 47 minutes ago
As for the time it takes to charge? Well, that depends on the type of charging unit you’re using....
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Oliver Taylor 6 minutes ago
A fast charger can fill most EV batteries to about 80% in less than 60 minutes, but that can add wea...
As for the time it takes to charge? Well, that depends on the type of charging unit you’re using.
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Ethan Thomas 82 minutes ago
A fast charger can fill most EV batteries to about 80% in less than 60 minutes, but that can add wea...
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Alexander Wang 11 minutes ago
It’s a better idea to get in the habit of charging your car overnight, using your at-home charger....
A fast charger can fill most EV batteries to about 80% in less than 60 minutes, but that can add wear and tear to your battery, so it’s recommended you only do that when on long road trips. It’s an option, though, which means the old fears of ‘can’t charge an EV fast’ are out the door.
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Grace Liu 18 minutes ago
It’s a better idea to get in the habit of charging your car overnight, using your at-home charger....
It’s a better idea to get in the habit of charging your car overnight, using your at-home charger. If you think you need to reach 100 percent after every charge, you don’t.
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Thomas Anderson 1 minutes ago
In fact, according to a 2020 University of Michigan study looking at the best ways to preserve batte...
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Brandon Kumar 22 minutes ago
Part of the reason EVs should be more reliable than traditional cars is the simple fact that they ha...
In fact, according to a 2020 University of Michigan study looking at the best ways to preserve battery life, a lithium ion battery shouldn’t drain to below 20 per cent or charge past 80 per cent.
Myth #5 EVs Aren t Reliable
This myth has been around since the first electric vehicles appeared on the market. There really isn’t much difference between gas-powered cars and EVs when it comes to reliability. Data from sources like Consumer Reports shows that EVs in the $35,000-$45,000 range have a much higher reliability rating than luxury electric cars in the $75,000 and up range.
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David Cohen 69 minutes ago
Part of the reason EVs should be more reliable than traditional cars is the simple fact that they ha...
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William Brown 32 minutes ago
Also, don’t confuse reliability with lack of preparation: you need to charge your EV regularly (mo...
Part of the reason EVs should be more reliable than traditional cars is the simple fact that they have fewer moving parts and aren’t as complex, but automakers just don’t have as much experience with EVs as they do with traditional vehicles. Plus, the technology is still new and evolving. While it’s true an EV battery can fail, most automakers have an 8 to 10-year or 100,000 miles warranty on their batteries.
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Jack Thompson 23 minutes ago
Also, don’t confuse reliability with lack of preparation: you need to charge your EV regularly (mo...
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Sophia Chen 8 minutes ago
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Also, don’t confuse reliability with lack of preparation: you need to charge your EV regularly (most recommended overnight, every night) to ensure it will take you to all the places you want to go. Do your research, scope out the EV you want, and enjoy all the perks that come with driving an electric car.
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Julia Zhang 9 minutes ago
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Jack Thompson 10 minutes ago
Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Can EV Batteries be Replaced o...
Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Can EV Batteries be Replaced or Upgraded? How ‘Green’ are Electric Vehicles, Really?
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Mia Anderson 108 minutes ago
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David Cohen 73 minutes ago
Can a Gasoline Vehicle Be Converted to an EV? Do Electric Vehicles Use Oil? Electric Vehicles: A Sho...
Can a Gasoline Vehicle Be Converted to an EV? Do Electric Vehicles Use Oil? Electric Vehicles: A Short History Lesson EVs and Electric Bills: Myth vs.
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Lily Watson 30 minutes ago
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5 Reasons People Don't Buy EVs GA
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She frequently contributes to sites like AutoTrader, AutoGravity, Lending Tree, and CarMax. lifewire...