7 Common Myths about Electric Cars, Debunked

Electric vehicles are no longer a vision of the future — their role in our present drives us towards a more sustainable tomorrow. ClipperCreek is separating facts from fiction by debunking some of the most pervasive myths surrounding electric cars. Drivers deserve to know about the comfort, convenience, affordability, and satisfaction an electric vehicle can provide in the long term.

Sources: National Household Travel Survey Daily Travel Quick Facts, Median Driving Range of All-Electric Vehicles Tops 250 Miles for Model Year 2020

MYTH 2: THERE IS NOT ENOUGH CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE

Reality: Electric Vehicles Don’t Require the Same Infrastructure as Gas Cars

Charging at Home: According to the US Department of Energy, about 80% of all EV charging takes place at home. That estimation increases if we consider the percent of EV charging at work or both locations. Therefore, there isn’t a need for public EV charging stations to be as widespread as gas stations. Purchasing an efficient home charging station will offer a convenience that satisfies most charging needs of commuters.

In fact, most EV drivers seldom need to stop by public charging locations unless they are taking a road trip or traveling for other various occasions.

EVSE Infrastructure Expansion: As of 2021, there are about 50,000 public charging stations in the United States. The government recently passed an infrastructure bill that plans to add 500,000 EV charging stations to the nation’s public network by 2030. The state of California plans to add 123,000 charging stations by 2025 alone, on top of its existing 73,000 public charging stations.

Publicly Accessible Charging Stations: EV charging stations can be found in many different types of public and commercial spaces: office buildings, shopping centers, airports, train stations, hotels, high schools, universities, apartments, highways, parking garages, and even city halls. Locating a charging station is exceptionally convenient with mobile apps like PlugShare and Google Maps.

Myth 4: EV Charging Is More Expensive than Gasoline

Reality: EV Charging Costs Less Than Gas, Short and Long-Term

In most cases, electric cars cost significantly less to drive than their gasoline counterparts regardless of the differences in electricity prices. According to the US Energy Information Administration, as of February 2022, the average American pays 14 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity consumption.

The cost of electricity varies by location and can vary within the same location, depending on the time of day. Most utility companies have designated times when electricity costs less due to lower demand, such as the middle of the night (this is often referred to as Time of Use). Some public places also offer EV charging stations as free amentities for their communities.

In order to accurately compare the average monthly cost of fueling up a gas car versus charging an elecric car, we will need the folowing information:

• Average number of miles driven in a month
• Battery size/capacity of the EV, measured in kWh
• Local cost of electricity, typically measured in cents per kWh

Comparison: Cost of EV Charging vs. Refueling Gas Cars

Step 1 — Establishing Cost to Charge

For the following example, suppose we own a standard Tesla Model 3, one of the more affordable and bestselling EV models of all time. We will also estimate that we drive an average of 1000 miles per month, factoring in daily commutes, errands, and other recreational activities.

1. As of the most recent data (February 2022), the average cost of electricity per kWh in the USA is around 13.83 cents per kilowatt-hour. To simplify our sample calculations, we can round up this cost to roughly 14* cents per hour of charging.

2. Using ClipperCreek’s EVSE Selector Tool, we are provided with an abundant variety of charging information, such as the car’s range, ideal chargers for specific vehicle models, etc. Our standard Tesla Model 3 has a vehicle battery size of 50 kWh.

3. Additionally, the EVSE Selector Tool provides an average cost of charging an electric car from empty to full. This is an estimated figure and often varies between different vehicle models, ranges, and capacities. We can also calculate our own cost to charge, using the numbers from the example above.

Plug in the vehicle battery size with our cost of electricity per kWh into the equation below to calculate our estimated cost to charge:

Vehicle Battery Size (50 kWh) x Cost of Electricity per kWh ($0.14 kWh) =
Cost to Charge to Full Capacity ($7.00)

Conclusion: It will cost us around $7 USD to charge our Tesla Model 3 from empty to full battery. Generally, it’s best practice to regularly charge only up to 80% instead of 100% battery. In actuality, it’s less than 7 USD to recharge our Tesla Model 3.

Comparison: Cost of EV Charging vs. Refueling Gas Cars

Step 2 — Find Out How Often You Charge

Unless you have a long commute, there is typically no reason to recharge your vehicle every night. Say you charged 2-3 times per week. We can multiply that by 4 and say you charge your car around 12-15 times per month on average, extending it a bit.

Cost to Charge to Full Capacity ($7.00) x ChargingTimes Per Month (12 to 15) = $84 to $105

Conclusion: It will cost us around $7 USD to charge our Tesla Model 3 from empty to full battery. If we charge 12-15 times per month, our cost of charging will only be an estimated $84-$105 per month.

Comparison: Cost of EV Charging vs. Refueling Gas Cars

Step 3 — Comparing that with Gas

Suppose our gasoline-powered car has a 12-gallon tank. Our total miles still average around 1000 miles per month. We can compare our estimated monthly gasoline costs to our estimated costs of charging an electric vehicle using the national averages.

1. Multiply the national average cost of gas ($4.37 per gallon as of writing this article) by our 12-gallon tank. We can conclude that this gasoline car will cost us roughly $52 each time to fill a full tank.

2. If our vehicle had around 350 miles of driving range for each full tank, we would divide our total average miles per month (1000) by 350 and calculate we need at least three refills in a month.

4. If our cost is roughly $52 per fill and we need to fuel at least 3 times per month, then on average, that adds up to at least $156 per month on gas. Depending on fluctuating gas prices and mileage, those numbers are our low-end. Those who have driven gasoline cars before know how quickly the gas price can add up.

Sources: Electric Power Monthly – U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA),  KBB: How Much Does it Cost to Charge an Electric Car?

Myth 5: EVs Are Expensive and Require Tons of Maintenance

Reality: The Opposite is True, Electric Cars Require Less General Maintenance

While some electric cars do indeed carry a higher upfront cost than their ICE (internal combustion engine) counterparts, most EVs will offset these costs over their lifetime. You can visit our EV Incentives page to see if your vehicle purchase would qualify you for a state, local government, or utility company tax credit.

Battery Life Expectancy: Battery replacements can be the most costly aspect of EV maintenance, but the US Federal Government requires electric cars to have a minimum battery warranty of 8 years or up to 100,000 miles. Some advanced EV batteries are often designed with a longer life expectancy than the vehicle itself. A handful of manufacturers offer warranties exclusive for EV batteries and other related parts.

Browse our directory to find inspiration for your next vehicle, where we have more information about specific models, battery warranties, ranges, acceleration, tax credits, charging power, etc.

Battery Life Expectancy: Battery replacements can be the most costly aspect of EV maintenance, but the US Federal Government requires electric cars to have a minimum battery warranty of 8 years or up to 100,000 miles. Some advanced EV batteries are often designed with a longer life expectancy than the vehicle itself. A handful of manufacturers offer warranties exclusive for EV batteries and other related parts.

Browse our directory to find inspiration for your next vehicle, where we have more information about specific models, battery warranties, ranges, acceleration, tax credits, charging power, etc.

Sources: Maintenance and Safety of Electric Vehicles, Electric Car Maintenance: How It Works | GreenCars

Myth 6: EVs and Charging Are Not Safe

Reality: Just as Safe as Gasoline Cars, Sometimes Safer

National Safety Standards: There is a common misconception that electric cars are new to the market and do not meet safety standards yet. However, this is not true. All vehicles must pass federal safety inspections before entering the market, and electric cars are just as genuine as gasoline cars. On the contrary, after conducting many rounds of crash testing research, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concluded that a majority of EVs offer better protection in collisions than their internal combustion engine counterparts.

Battery Fires: Less Frequent but Overreported: The EV industry is still relatively new to the mainstream, often making it underrepresented and vulnerable to sensationalism. In a mainstream that thrives off clickbait, the media is more likely to report instances of electric cars catching on fire than their gasoline counterparts. Thus, we are led to believe that electric cars are more likely to catch on fire through a series of confirmation biases.

Electric Vehicle Fire Numbers: The opposite is true: studies show that gasoline vehicles are typically about 11 times more likely to catch fire than their EV counterparts. Most EV fires and recalls occur due to battery issues. Realistically, improving battery technology and adhering to strict safety standards will decrease an EV’s flammability risk. After analyzing data from the National Transportation Safety Board, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, and government recalls, a 2021 study by AutoinsuranceEZ.com shows that for every 100k gasoline cars sold, there are about 1530 fires. However, there are only about 25 fires for every 100k pure-electric cars sold.

Sources: CRASHWORTHINESS TESTING OF ELECTRIC AND HYBRID VEHICLES, Fires are less frequent in Teslas and other EVs vs. gas vehicles, Gas vs. Electric Car Fires [2021 Findings]

Myth 7 Part A: Electric Cars Won’t Make Any Positive Environmental Impacts

Reality: Driving Either Battery Electric or Plug-in Hybrids Can Significantly Reduce Emissions

Myth 7 Part B: EVS are worse for the environment because of their batteries

User Video: Are Electric Cars Worse for the Environment? Myth Busted

Video Summary: Vehicle Lifetime Emissions

Initial Emissions:  It is true that electric vehicles can initially generate more emissions than their gasoline counterparts during manufacturing since it involves lithium-ion batteries and mass production. However, electric vehicles will offset their initial emissions after a milestone number of years or mileage.

However, the majority of a vehicle’s emissions are generated during its lifetime.  When accounting for the total amount of emissions, including production, lifetime, and end-of-life, electric vehicles generate much less overall emissions when compared to their gasoline counterparts.

Average Lifetime Emissions
SUV or Similarly-Sized Vehicle (USA)

Recycling Lithium Batteries: A 2021 study has found that recycled lithium batteries operate with just as good, sometimes even better quality than batteries with newly mined materials. EV batteries can also be re-purposed for many non-automotive purposes.

Sources: A global comparison of the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of combustion engine and electric passenger cars, Are Electric Cars Worse For The Environment? Myth Busted

Aside from being environmentally friendly, there are many economical, practical, and personal advantages to driving electric cars.