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There are many reasons why Americans may be eager to switch from a traditional gasoline car to an electric vehicle.
They may be concerned about the price of the electric vehicle or how expensive it is to maintain, or they may imagine the car running out of battery without a nearby charging point.
But how many of these fears are justified?
Electric vehicle adoption in the U.S. is slowing, with many Americans opting for a hybrid car instead of going all-electric.
But according to expert Nathan Wyeth, there are many myths surrounding electric cars that need to be debunked.
There are many reasons why Americans may be eager to switch from a traditional gasoline car to an electric vehicle, but how many are justified?
Myth: You need to install a charging station at home
According to Wyeth, co-head of U.S. electric vehicles at Octopus Energy, you only need two things to own an electric car.
The first is to have a space, a garage or a driveway where you can park near an electrical outlet overnight, and the second is to have a source of electricity at home.
“If you drive during your daily commute, you should be able to drive by simply plugging it into a regular socket,” he told DailyMail.com.
“It is a mistake to think that it is absolutely necessary to pay to have a charger installed at home.”
Octopus is a Texas-based energy provider, so Wyeth uses the example of an “average Houstonian” driving to and from work across the city as a benchmark for a regular commute.
“You can think of the average New Yorker, the average Seattleite, or the average person living in Miami,” he said.
Only those who have to drive longer distances might consider installing a charging station in their home, which typically costs about $1,500, he added.
Myth: Electric cars are unreliable
The American Automobile Association reported last year that, on a percentage basis, electric vehicles actually have fewer roadside assistance calls than gasoline-powered cars, Wyeth said.
One of the main reasons is that gasoline cars have around 2,000 moving parts, while electric cars only have about 20 parts in the propulsion system.
“There’s just less things to break,” he said. “Electric motors can be expected to have a really long and reliable lifespan.”
Myth: Electric vehicles are much more expensive to buy than gasoline vehicles
“There are more and more models being introduced that are gradually reducing the price of a new electric vehicle, so it’s actually getting pretty close to the average cost of a new car in the United States,” Wyeth said.
Nathan Wyeth, co-head of electric vehicles at Octopus Energy in the US, said there are many myths surrounding electric cars that need to be debunked.
But it’s when it comes to used cars that drivers can find the best deals when switching to an electric vehicle.
New data released this month found that second-hand electric cars are now cheaper than their petrol-powered counterparts for the first time – and the gap is widening rapidly.
TO study Comparison site iSeeCars found that the cost of the average used electric vehicle fell $265 below that of a typical gasoline car in February.
This marked the beginning of the trend and according to the latest data from May, the price difference has increased to $2,657.
“More and more Americans are looking at used cars to find the right price,” Wyeth said.
‘There have been enough models on the market for long enough that today there are excellent electric cars with over 250 miles of range available for under $30,000 or even under $20,000.’
Americans can also see dramatic savings on gasoline if they make the switch. You can go from paying $100 a month for gas to about $25 a month for electricity, Wyeth said.
“I think the fact that electricity is also more stable as a commodity is underestimated,” he added.
The price gap between used electric vehicles and gasoline cars is growing
Myth: Electric car batteries deteriorate quickly
Electric car batteries last much longer than the manufacturer’s warranty, Wyeth noted, which is typically eight years and 100,000 miles.
Even if we look back five or ten years, batteries last more than 200,000 miles.
‘Especially when it comes to a used electric vehicle, people may think it’s a risky proposition. But I think they both have good warranties and also a growing track record of these cars being reliable.
‘They last a long time and you might be surprised by the ride quality after a long time.’
Paul Hartweck of Houston has saved $400 on gas in five months with his electric car
Electric car batteries last much longer than the manufacturer’s warranty, Wyeth said.
Myth: Now is not the time to buy an electric car
Some people wonder whether now is a good time to switch to an electric car, since current models will quickly become obsolete, Wyeth said.
“In fact, we think we’re at a point where the cars that are available today are at a threshold where they’re going to have value for a long time.”
If you have a car with 250 miles of range and you drive in the city, you’re totally set, he said. You can drive for days and days without needing to charge.
But if you’re going on a longer trip, you may need to find charging stations, and there’s certainly a lot of work to be done on charging infrastructure in the US.
Fears about the lack of charging stations are one of the main problems for future owners of electric vehicles, especially in more rural or remote areas.
“The analogy I use is cell phones,” Wyeth said. “If you think back 20 years ago, maybe they worked in the city, but once you got out of the city it was harder to find reception.
‘In fact, telephones became more useful as mobile service expanded. And I think, similarly, a car with 250 miles of range could prove more useful in the coming years as more and more charging stations are built.
“This is a technology that can work very well for many Americans today, and for more Americans in the future.”