The Truth About EV's, Electric Vehicles, Both the Positive and the Negative

The Truth About EV's, Electric Vehicles, Both the Positive and the Negative

In recent years, electric vehicles (EVs) have become a focal point in the automotive industry as the world strives towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future. As the popularity of EVs continues to grow, so does the influx of information - both accurate and misleading. In this article, we will dissect the truths and myths surrounding electric vehicles, exploring both the positive and negative aspects of this revolutionary technology. We have documented and incorporated references to the source information, just click the links.

Top 10 Myths about EV's and the truth:

1. Myth: EVs are not as powerful as traditional vehicles.
   This myth is FALSE: Contrary to this myth, many electric vehicles boast impressive acceleration and performance. Electric motors deliver instant torque, providing a smooth and powerful driving experience. High-performance EVs have even set records in terms of speed and acceleration.
   
   
2. Myth: EVs are more expensive than traditional vehicles.
   This myth is TRUE: The upfront cost of some EVs is MUCH higher. Over time, the total cost of ownership can be lowered as  EVs typically have fewer moving parts, resulting in lower maintenance costs. Of course, when the batteries need to be replaced, that may be a huge expense  Additionally, governments around the world offer incentives and subsidies to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles, making them more affordable.
   The average cost of an electric vehicle (EV) in September 2023 was over $53,000. The average starting price for the top 10 best-selling EVs in the US is $48,899. See AutoWeek Magazine for about the total costs of owning an EV .
   Here's a sampling of some current prices, high to low:
   Tesla Model X: $112,590.
   Tesla Model S: $76,190
   Lucid Air: $77,400
   Porsche Taycan: $81,250
   Audi e-Tron: $65,900
   Hyundai Kona EV: $37,390
   Chevrolet Bolt: $31,995
   Tesla Model 3: $40,390
   Polestar 2: $48,400
   Audi A6 e-tron: $70,800
   Nissan Leaf: $29,135
   Kia Niro EV Wind: $40,875
   
   
   
3. Myth: EVs are not environmentally friendly due to the manufacturing process
   This myth is TRUE: The manufacturing of EV batteries has a large environmental impact, The EV batteries' manufacture relies on lithium and cobalt.
   The magnets in the motors need neodymium and dysprosium , also samarium and terbium ; all of which are rare earth elements. These  are mostly sourced in China and the mining is very damaging to the environment.
   
4. Myth: EVs are not environmentally friendly because they still rely upon fossil fuels.
   This myth is TRUE: According to the U.S. EPA, 75% of electric energy in America comes from fossil fuels!  And this is what you use to recharge an EV! So, every time you charge an EV you are burning fossil fuels.
   
5. Myth: EVs are impractical for everyday use.
   This myth is FALSE:  For daily short commuting and short trips, EVs are highly practical. Many people find that the available range meets their daily needs, and the convenience of home charging makes them well-suited for regular use.
   But this myth is TRUE if you have a long commute. However, long-distance travel is still very impractical, and still requires careful planning due to charging infrastructure limitations outside of large cities .If you get stuck in traffic on a hot summer day with he AC running or a cold winter day with the heater on, you could easily drain the battery and be stuck on the side of the road.
   
   
6. Myth: EVs take too long to charge.
   This myth is TRUE: Charging times are much longer compared to refueling a traditional gasoline or diesel powered vehicle. There are fast chargers addressing this concern, but they are still rare and very expensive, on the order of $10,000each. In the future, perhaps high-power chargers will significantly reduce charging times, but these are still rare, and consumers report they stations are often occupied, recall when the Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm took a Disasterous EV trip . Some EV owners have been forced to abandon their vehicles when they ran out of charge and there were no chargers available. Even NPR admits this is a real problem .
   
   
7. Myth: EV batteries degrade quickly.
   This myth is FALSE: Battery degradation is a consideration for EV owners, but modern battery management systems have improved significantly. With proper care and maintenance, EV batteries can retain a high level of performance for 8 to 10 years. ''Every single battery is going to degrade every time you charge and discharge it,'' Atlis Motor Vehicles CEO, Mark Hanchett, told InsideEVs .  To help your battery last longer, avoid letting your battery drain below 10-20% of charge remaining.

These are the factors that adversely affect battery life:
• Exposure to high ambient temperatures
• Fast charging
• Storage the EV without a charge maintainer connected
EV's are still new to the marketplace, but it currently appears that the batteries last between 8 and 20 years, although after 8 to 10 years, the range is likely reduced..


8. Myth: EV batteries are expensive to replace
   This myth is TRUE: J.D. Power says:
   

   EV EV batteries are costly to replace out of pocket, and the prices can generally be between $4,000 to $20,000, with your vehicle's year, make, and model directly influencing the final sum. However, the prices are expected to decrease gradually with time, and the warranty comprehensively covers any part replacement within the first eight years. 
   

   Cars.com reports :
   

   According to J.D. Power , the cost of replacing a battery in the Tesla Model 3 is approximately $13,000, which is over 30% of the sedan’s starting price. Recurrent estimates the total cost to replace the Model 3’s battery is around $15,800 when labor is included.

9. Myth: Charging stations are rare and expensive... or constantly occupied or broken
   This myth is true: Charging stations are still rare outside of urban areas, and EV charging stations are often broken (Wall Street Journal). Commercial charging stations are reported to cost about $10,00 each.  Home charging stations require power upgrades in addition to the charger, making the total cost $2,000 to $5,000. Charging stations are most common in urban areas, see the map at right, and you can search the Dept of Energy map for a charging station here.
   
   
10. Myth: EVs have a limited driving range; causing "range Anxiety"
    This myth is still mostly TRUE: While early electric vehicles did have limited ranges, technological advancements have improved battery technology. Still many EV owners have range anxiety (NY Times). Many modern EVs now offer ranges of 200 to 300 miles - when the batteries are new ! As the batteries degrade over time, the range decreases, it is assumed to be about 10% loss per year. The average range of an electric vehicle (EV) is estimated to be 211 miles.  It all depends on the make and model you choose.  As you would expect, the most expensive EV's tend to have the bigger ranges. As shown in the table below, (dated December 2023) it goes from a low of 83 miles for some Fiats to for Lucid Air. See this chart with links to the source.

Conclusion:

Separating fact from fiction is crucial as electric vehicles become an integral part of the automotive landscape. As technology continues to advance and infrastructure expands, electric vehicles are likely to mporve,  For now, an Electric-Gasoline hybrid is a smarter choice, offering the flexibility of both options and unlimited range.

References:

Many references are incorporated into the text above, by the links to the sources. Below are additional references.