5 Common Myths About Electric Vehicles

To many people, electric vehicles (EVs) still look like technology of the future. Even with more EVs on the road every year and major automakers rushing to launch a full line of electric vehicles, the average person still thinks clean driving with an EV is out of their reach. But that’s just not true. Electric vehicles are here and more affordable than ever.

Here are some of the most common myths about EVs that aren’t reality here in 2021.

Not anymore, they aren’t. EVs used to be out of the price range for the average consumer, but like any new technology, the price has dropped almost every year. Today, you can expect to pay as much for an electric vehicle as you would for a gas-powered vehicle. But hey, don’t just take our word for it; check out this useful InsideEVs chart for EV price comparisons.

Yes you can. The US Department of Transportation reports that the average American drives about 40 miles a day — a distance the average EV can easily handle.

Also, just as new technology is driving down the price of EVs, it’s increasing their reach. At the lower end, more affordable EVs can go about 150 miles before needing to recharge; at the top end, the Tesla Model S Long Range can go up to 400 miles. And even if you’re planning a longer trip, you can use PlugShare to plan your route and find an electric vehicle charging station anywhere in the country.

Is not true. In fact, because the electric motor generates 100% of its available torque instantly, an EV is generally faster than a gas-powered vehicle. Even at a lower EV, you’ll jump off the line at the fastest traffic light and feel the difference. However, if you really need speed, we suggest you try a Tesla Model S. In Ludicrous Mode, you can go from 0 to 60 in 2.5 seconds! (Just make sure you follow the rules of the road.)

Wrong again. According to the US Department of Energy, electricity to charge an EV costs the equivalent of about $1.25 per gallon. The average EV achieves about 100 mpge (miles per eGallon) in fuel economy. If you don’t want to do the math, that’s about $375 a year… ONE YEAR!

Plus, if you sign up for our Solar All Nighter EV plan for EVs in Texas, you can charge your EV with clean, pollution-free solar power for a lower price at night.

Not by a long shot. While it’s true that there is roughly the same carbon footprint associated with making an electric car and building a gas-powered car, that’s where the similarity ends. In fact, so much more emissions come from driving a gasoline-powered car that, when you look at the complete lifecycle of each vehicle, the EV is significantly cleaner from cradle to grave.

Manufacturing and maintenance are the only carbon footprints an EV cannot completely avoid. If you charge your EV using renewable electricity, the carbon cost of driving is virtually zero. Compare that to a gasoline-powered car that is emitting 19.8 pounds of CO_two with every gallon of gas that burns, and the impact doesn’t even come close. And if you live in Texas and drive a Tesla, you can even use the Green Mountain app to track how much CO_two you are avoiding in real time when you sign up for a plan with us.

The hesitation to get into an electric vehicle is based on the supposed limitations of the EV when compared to traditional polluting gas-powered vehicles. But there have been some significant advances over the past decade that have made many of these perceived limitations a thing of the past. Now that you know these myths aren’t true, we hope you’ll consider switching to an EV. With our EV Concierge service, we can even help find the right one for you (not to mention helping you avoid dealer antics).