Are you falling for these EV Myths too?

Electric Vehicle or EV is a vehicle that uses an electric motor for propulsion, unlike the dominant internal-combustion engine system that burns a mixture of fuel and gases for the generation of power and propulsion. At a time when ‘climate change is one of the foremost concerns of humanity and its ‘mitigation’ is a topmost priority across the nations of the world, the EV is increasingly becoming popular.

It is now seen as a possible replacement for the current internal-combustion engine automobile to address the issues of rising pollution, global warming, and climate change by achieving zero tailpipe emissions with battery-operated vehicles.

While EVs are increasingly getting popular it is also true that there are multiple myths surrounding them which are in many ways preventing them from enjoying the much-deserved mass appeal in the 21st century. We try to highlight some of the myths related to EVs and debunk them here:

Claim: EVs are uneconomical as they are costlier than the dominant internal-combustion engine system vehicles.

Fact: Ultimately EVs are more economical if one takes fuel and maintenance costs into consideration.

It is well-known that the high price of EVs has so far made the average Indian consumer exhibit aversion to these battery-operated vehicles. The prices however are projected to become at par with petrol-driven vehicles in a year or two, according to the Indian government. It is well known that whenever a new technology is introduced, initial prices are higher, and with time when the technology is commonly adopted at the mass level, the prices come down. This understanding is applicable to EVs too. At the same time, multiple subsidies and incentives have been announced at the government level to mitigate the initial ‘high’ cost of EV technology.

The Indian government has recently tripled its budgetary allocation so that it can offer substantive subsidies to consumers during the purchase of electric vehicles in the country. It is also true that the EVs have lower operation and maintenance costs as they have fewer moving parts resulting in lesser wear and tear. This ultimately leads to reduced life-cycle costs in comparison to internal-combustion engine vehicles.

Claim: EVs take too long to charge.

Fact: The reality is that over 90% of the time, cars remain parked. EVs can be easily charged during this downtime.

Also, the Indian market is witnessing the recent entry of fast-chargers in the market and some of them can charge from 10 to 80 percent in less than 42 minutes. Fast chargers are mainly being used to charge 4-wheeler EVs with bigger batteries. Kia has recently installed India’s fastest electric vehicle charger in Gurgaon, Haryana.

According to the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, currently, EVs (2-wheeler, 3-wheeler, 4-wheeler) can be charged from 0%-80% in around 1-5 hours using Slow/Moderate chargers and fast chargers can charge electric vehicles in less than 1 hour. Fast chargers are mainly used to charge electric 4-wheelers with bigger batteries.

Claim: The EV batteries won’t last long, only a few years.

Fact: EV batteries will last for several years and in many cases might last beyond the life expectancy of the electric vehicle itself.

Most companies offer a 5 to 8-year warranty on their batteries. However, as per the latest technology, EV batteries should last anywhere between 10 to 20 years. Thus, consumers need not worry about having to replace the battery only after a few years of usage.

Claim: The ultimate emission impacts of an EV are more than a petrol/diesel vehicle.

Fact: EVs have less carbon footprint than petrol/diesel vehicles even if we count the carbon emissions during electricity generation to charge them and manufacturing of batteries.

While petrol vehicles can convert about 17-21% of the energy stored in petrol to power, EVs can convert 59-62% of the electrical energy from the grid to power.

According to a 2020 Study, EVs lead to lower overall CO2 emissions even if the electricity used to power them comes from fossil fuels. The study has also found that although more carbon is emitted during the manufacturing process of EVs in comparison to petrol/diesel vehicles, over a lifecycle the carbon benefits are strongly in favour of the EVs.

Claim: Electric vehicles have a very low range.

Fact: The typical daily mileage of the average Indian driver is comfortably accommodated by the EVs.

The range of the EVs is increasing and can easily accommodate the average daily mileage of Indian drivers. According to the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, the average range of electric 2-wheelers is about 84 km per charge and the average range of four-wheelers is between 150-200 km per charge. With the rapid introduction of charging stations at specific intervals across the length and breadth of the country, commuting in EVs has become much easier. The metro cities of India have seen a 2.5-fold increase in the number of EV charging stations, according to reports. The recent boom involving battery swapping stations is another modification that can go a long way in extending the range of EVs. It is a form of a solution in the way toward mass electrification through which empty batteries can be exchanged for charged ones.

Claim: There are not enough EV charging stations in India.

Fact: There are around 1750 EV charging stations in India and public as well as private players are aggressively promoting the introduction of more stations in the country.

According to reports, India will witness around 48,000 additional EV chargers over the next 3-4 years in which period a major EV penetration has been projected in the country. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has amended its building bylaws to include the provision of EV charging in buildings. For example, all new buildings in Noida need to have an EV charging station now.

Also, the fact remains that if one installs a charger at his/her home in the parking area, then also one can charge the EV in accordance with one’s convenience.

Claim: Electric vehicles can get damaged in waterlogged areas.

Fact: The EVs have water ingress protection as all their electrical components are well-sealed.

The EVs have to comply with an Ingress Protection (IP) standard. Most of the EVs come with an IP67 rating or more which represents the protection against dust and water. The higher the number, the better the protection. Anything that comes with a rating of more than 67 is for specialized equipment like submarines. “An IP67 rating allows one to submerge the vehicle in water up to a meter in height for up to 30 mins without any leakage,” according to reports. Also, driving an EV into a pool of water doesn’t necessarily lead to any malfunction, and doesn’t conduct electricity into the water.

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