Electric cars are no longer a novelty, but there are still many myths surrounding them, which are unfounded. Let’s debunk 5 common misbeliefs about electric cars.
1. Electric cars are not suitable for long trips
This myth has followed electric cars since their introduction to the market. While it had some truth in the past, today, electric car batteries have significantly improved across all models, with an average range of 450 km or more. Earlier this year, a new battery was tested in a Tesla Model S, achieving an impressive 1200 km on a test drive (even in sub-zero temperatures!). Therefore, developments are progressing rapidly, and range should no longer be a reason against electric cars.
Electric cars are expensive to maintain
Due to the higher purchase price, it’s assumed that maintenance costs are also higher. In fact, the operating and maintenance costs of an electric vehicle are relatively low. Electric cars have significantly fewer moving and wear-and-tear parts, and they don’t require gearbox maintenance or oil changes.
Despite the rise in electricity prices over the year, fossil fuel prices have also increased. Additionally, with electricity purchases, you can adjust costs by charging at night, when electricity rates are cheaper.
Electric cars aren’t “greener”
A common criticism of electric cars is that while they don’t emit exhaust gases during driving, their batteries still end up in landfills, causing significant environmental harm. Various tests have shown that even after nearly 200,000 km, electric cars retain 75% of their battery capacity. Many Tesla owners claim that even after 300,000 km, their Tesla battery still has 90% of its lifespan left. Thus, electric car batteries are durable enough to remain functional for years without replacement.
Moreover, the batteries of electric cars can be successfully recycled in solar and wind power plants or used to create other technical equipment.
Electric vehicle charging infrastructure is inadequate
A few years ago, this may have been true. Today, however, charging infrastructure in Estonia and across Europe has rapidly developed, and charging points are now widely available throughout Estonia. While five years ago, the main player in the market was the Elmo charging network (22 kWh), today, ultra-fast chargers with 300 kWh capacity are being installed at gas stations. The trend is moving towards electric cars being charged at home overnight or at workplace charging stations, while public chargers offer “refueling” opportunities on the go.
You can also find several electric vehicles in Mobire’s fleet.
Original post is found here: https://mobire.ee/koik/5-muuti-elektriautode-kohta/
