Electric vehicle myths busted – EQ Mag Pro
EVs are more economical when you consider fuel and maintenance cost.
Where have been a number of myths related to electric vehicles. So, let’s try to bust some of the myths associated with EVs.
The first myth is that many don’t prefer to buy EVs as they are considered as “uneconomical”. So, what is the truth? There may be various theories on the economic viability. However, according to e-AMRIT (one-stop portal for creating awareness about electric mobility through Electric Vehicles (EVs) in India), EVs are more economical when you consider fuel and maintenance costs.
Myth#2: It takes too long to charge
Fact: Cars spend over 90 per cent of the time parked. You can plug in your car in this downtime at home to charge it. If you need to charge quickly on the road, fast and rapid chargers are
entering the Indian market. Some electric vehicles can charge from 20 to 80 per cent in about half an hour on these chargers.
Myth #3: Electric vehicle batteries will only last a few years
Fact: Electric vehicle batteries last for several years, and many of them will have a life beyond that of the vehicle for storing energy
Myth #4: The emission impacts of an electric vehicle are more than a petrol or diesel vehicle
Fact: Electric vehicles typically have a smaller carbon footprint than Petrol and Diesel Vehicles, even when accounting for the electricity used for charging and the carbon footprint of manufacturing batteries.
Myth#5: Electric vehicles have very low range
Fact: The range of electric vehicles is enough for the typical daily mileage of the average Indian driver.
Myth#6: Electric vehicles are slow and have bad performance
Fact: Electric vehicles perform better Than petrol or diesel vehicles because they are more efficient and have better acceleration
Myth#7: India’s electricity grid is not suited for electric vehicles
Fact: Electric vehicles result in a reduction of life-cycle carbon dioxide emissions even with the current Indian grid fuel mix
Myth#8: Electric vehicles get damaged in waterlogged areas and are dangerous to charge in the rain
Fact: An undamaged electric vehicle will have water ingress protection. This means that its electrical components are well-sealed and extremely unlikely to provide an electrical hazard
Types of electric vehicles
To get more understanding of EVs, we give details on various type of electric vehicles. According to e-Amrit, there are types of electric vehicles available.
Battery electric vehicle (BEV):
These are fully-powered by electricity. These are more efficient compared to hybrid and plug-in hybrids.
Hybrid electric vehicle: The vehicle uses both the internal combustion (usually petrol) engine and the battery-powered motor power train. The petrol engine is used both to drive and charge when the battery is empty.
These vehicles are not as efficient as fully electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV): Uses both an internal combustion engine and a battery charged from an external socket (they have a plug). This means the vehicle’s battery can be charged with electricity rather than the engine. PHEVs are more efficient than HEVs but less efficient than BEVs. Fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV): Electric energy is produced from chemical energy. For example, a hydrogen FCEV.