Popular EV myths – the truth behind the lies
Electrification – the switch from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to EVs and the implementation of charging infrastructure – offers organisations environmental, reputational and financial benefits.
Yet EVs have had – and continue to have – their critics.
Of course, doubting or criticising innovation isn’t anything new.
With EVs, however, the level and volume of misinformation is in danger of masking the genuine benefits they offer.
This is of particular concern because electrification:
- Isn’t simple
- Is crucial
For destination owners and workplace managers – and particularly for fleet managers – there’s a lot to consider. Whether introducing charging facilities for customer, visitor and staff convenience – or switching vehicle fleets from internal combustion engine (ICE) to electric to decarbonise and boost reputation – electrification’s a complex business.
And the stakes are high because the incentives are significant. The financial, environmental and reputational benefits electrification offers mean making the switch should be at the forefront of business owners’ minds.
Some ‘EV myths’ are outdated. Many concerns that were valid a decade ago are – due to technological developments – now irrelevant. But that doesn’t mean they’ve vanished from the press, from online articles and from social posts.
Other myths were never true in the first place.
Here we’ll look at the eight most common untruths about EVs and set the record straight.
1. “The range on EVs is rubbish”
Only a few years ago, we considered an EV with a range of 150 miles ‘impressive’. Last year, the average distance an EV could travel on a single charge was 236 miles – Bristol to Bradford with miles to spare.
The vast majority of car journeys in England are under 100 miles. So, it’ll usually be perfectly possible to get to your destination to recharge (or to get there and back before recharging!) before range anxiety kicks in.
Read more about why EV range concerns are misplaced.
2. “There’s nowhere to charge EVs in public”
The number of UK public-facing EV chargers recently hit 75,000 – nearly triple the count at the end of 2021.
In 2024, the Government set a target of 300,000 publicly available chargers by 2030. And National Grid’s currently working on ensuring that no driver on a motorway or dual carriageway’s more than 30 miles from an ultra-rapid charging facility.
Learn more about the UK charging network’s growth.
3. “EVs are worse for the environment because of their batteries”
EV battery production’s an energy-intensive process. Some people also believe batteries are unrecyclable and will all end up in landfill at the end of their useful life.
Although the manufacture of EVs is more carbon-intensive than that of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, they’re not worse for the environment. EVs are responsible for less pollution over their lifecycle – even taking into account their manufacture and the risk of non-green energy powering them.
As for EV batteries, they’re not just recyclable – UK law prohibits their disposal in landfill.
Read more about EVs' sustainability benefits in our focused article.
4. “The Grid isn’t going to cope if we all go electric”
Although EV charging could account for 5% of the UK’s energy consumption by 2030, the National Grid’s been preparing for this increase in demand for some time.
It’s also worth noting that, even if the UK’s vehicle fleet electrified overnight, the electricity demands still wouldn’t be as high as they climbed to over twenty years ago.
5. “EVs break down more than normal cars”
The majority of research indicates that EVs break down less than ‘normal’ petrol or diesel vehicles. A high proportion of EV-related maintenance call-outs merely relate to drivers not understanding the implications of dashboard warnings, too.
EVs have fewer parts than ICE vehicles. That means fewer parts to go wrong.
It’s likely that the percentage of EVs reporting breakdowns will drop further once drivers become more familiar with the technology and basic fixes.
6. “Charging an EV takes hours”
‘Fast’ chargers – the ones you’re likely to have either installed or be thinking about installing in your driveway – are best suited to overnight charging of EVs. Which makes sense, as that’s when most vehicles are stationery and accessible for charging.
‘Rapid’ chargers – the ones you’ll usually find at service stations – can add 100 miles to your EV’s range within about 35 minutes. The UK has more of these chargers per 100 miles of road than any other European country.
‘Ultra-rapid’ chargers can often charge a flat battery to 100% within 30 minutes!
7. “EVs are more likely to catch fire”
Tabloid stories and social media amplification have seen this myth spread like the proverbial wildfire.
Scandinavian countries are ahead of the curve when it comes to EV adoption. Two separate studies there have found that EVs are far less likely to catch fire than ICE vehicles.
8. “Electricity used to charge EVs is dirty”
The UK’s made great strides towards a greener grid in recent years.
Although it’s not yet possible for National Energy System Operator (NESO) to satisfy electricity demand with purely renewably generated supply, 2025’s energy mix featured a record 50% renewables.
Even if EVs were to charge solely with ‘dirty’ power, they’d still be responsible for lower levels of emissions than ICE vehicles.
The UK’s at a crucial stage in its decarbonisation efforts. Electrification has a huge role to play in enabling the nation to meet its sustainability targets.
So, it’s important organisations look beyond the misinformation. Focusing on the facts – and the benefits of introducing charging facilities and switching to EVs – will encourage substantial organisational benefits and a much-needed boost to the UK’s net zero progress.
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We’ve used all reasonable efforts to ensure that the content in this article is accurate, current, and complete at the date of publication. However, we make no express or implied representations or warranties regarding its accuracy, currency or completeness. We cannot accept any responsibility (to the extent permitted by law) for any loss arising directly or indirectly from the use of any content in this article, or any action taken in relying upon it.
