EV Myths vs. Facts
Busting Electric Vehicles Myths
Upfront costs are dropping for all electric vehicles (EVs). Many new EVs are already cost-competitive with gas vehicles. And, an increasing number of used EVs are becoming available with even lower price tags.
Plus EVs require far lower fuel and maintenance costs. Because of that, you can save significantly by owning and driving electric across your EV lifetime compared to the costs of buying and operating a gas-powered vehicle.
- Once you include fuel and maintenance cost savings, which are significant, it costs much less to buy, own and operate an EV than a gas powered vehicle today. A Harvard Kennedy School Study found: At $200 per kWh, the EV is cheaper to buy, own and operate than the internal combustion (ICE) vehicle in every scenario by up to $4,300. Union of Concerned Scientists analysis finds EVs are significantly cheaper.
- According to Energy.gov all-electric vehicles have the lowest estimated annual fuel cost of all light-duty vehicles.
Most electric vehicles now have over 200 mile range—and new models with an over 400 mile range will be available soon.
Unlike needing to go out to refuel gas vehicles, the majority of EV charging for daily commutes can be done while you’re at home. Plus, with DC fast chargers across California’s traffic corridors, an electric vehicle can refuel in roughly 30 minutes.
- Over the past decade, the electric vehicle market has grown to more than 60 different cars. The best electric cars all get more than 200 miles on a charge.
- The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) estimates that the average American drives 40 miles per day. The 200-plus miles per battery charge offered by many of today’s electric cars provides all the driving range that commuters need. Actually, they provide five times the required distance.
- The time it takes to charge an electric car can be as little as 30 minutes or more than 12 hours. This depends on the size of the battery and the speed of the charging point.
The electrical grid benefits from electric vehicles.
The increase in overall demand is minimal and electric vehicles benefit the grid by storing and managing energy and driving electricity rates down for users.
- EVs are driving electricity rates down. This isn’t down the road. This is happening now. (Synapse Energy Report)
- In California, today, our electricity grid is powered by over 34% renewables, with a total of 77% powered by low to no carbon energy.
- Some smart charging and time-of-use pricing will be needed to prevent localized constraints, but overall the power market can comfortably integrate the additional demand. (BNEF)
- Batteries and electric vehicles (EVs), can be central to protecting reliability, according to a new Southern California Edison (SCE) paper, Reimagining the Grid, describing the evolution of tomorrow’s grid
- The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) describes how EVs “have the potential to help balance loads and improve the resiliency of our nation’s electricity infrastructure. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology makes it possible to store surplus electricity generated from intermittent renewable solar and wind sources in EV batteries during non-peak periods and feed power back to the grid when needed, enhancing grid stability and reducing electricity costs at peak hours.”
From factory to road, electric vehicles, with zero tailpipe emissions, emit a fraction of global warming pollutants that gas-powered vehicles produce.
EVs across all segments are already displacing 1 million barrels of oil demand per day globally.
- A new study conducted in July 2021 by The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) shows from manufacturing to fueling to driving, EVs produce less pollution than gas-powered vehicles.
- U.S. Department of Energy has developed a Beyond Tailpipe Calculator to estimate the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for your EV or PHEV. You can enter your zip code and calculate the tailpipe emissions for your car. The calculator includes upstream emissions to produce the car and battery.
- Union of Concerned Scientists undertook a comprehensive, two-year review of the climate emissions from vehicle production, operation, and disposal. They found that battery electric cars generate half the emissions of the average comparable gasoline car, even when pollution from battery manufacturing is accounted for.
- Just published, the Union of Concerned Scientists discuss critical materials in battery electric vehicles and battery recycling in this report.
- The need for electrification in the medium- and heavy-duty segment is urgent. EPA reports that the medium- and heavy-duty segment was responsible for 23 percent of the GHG emissions – over half of the transportation emissions in the U.S. – and accounted for 26 percent of the transportation sector’s fuel consumption in 2018.
There are 80+ electric vehicle models available today and manufacturers are debuting more every year. With instant acceleration, driving electric is fun, fast and powerful.
Find the electric car for you at electricforall.org!
- Most EVs on the market today go from 0-60 mph in less than 8 seconds, some in less than 3. They are among the speediest on the market, and far faster than most gas-powered vehicles. (Motortrend)
- Dozens of new passenger EV models will hit the US market in the next two to three years. These are finally addressing the light truck, SUV, and crossover markets in large numbers. COVID-19 has impacted some delivery schedules, but these delays are marked in months, not years. (Car and Driver) (BNEF)
Sales of gas-powered vehicles have been declining since 2018.
Meanwhile, electric vehicle sales are growing exponentially while costs are dramatically dropping.
View the quarterly EV Market Report
- Internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle sales have peaked, according to most analysts.
- EV sales have been more resilient during the pandemic/recession, and more resilient than gas powered car sales.
- Carmakers are producing more EVs. Electric car stock increased 40% year-on year in 2019, according to the IEA.
California is on the fast track to build out charging infrastructure, with policies, investments and regulatory streamlining, to ensure everyone can charge when and where they need to charge.
Visit the Home Charging Advisor.
- Charging stations are proliferating faster in California than anywhere in the U.S. (Consumer Reports).
- The California Energy Commission is putting a “down payment” of $384 million over the next three years on the electric-vehicle charging and zero-emission vehicle infrastructure.
- Find alternative fueling stations in the U.S. and Canada from the U.S. Department of Energy.
- The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) describes how EVs “have the potential to help balance loads and improve the resiliency of our nation’s electricity infrastructure. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology makes it possible to store surplus electricity generated from intermittent renewable solar and wind sources in EV batteries during non-peak periods and feed power back to the grid when needed, enhancing grid stability and reducing electricity costs at peak hours.”
Electric Vehicles could be the state’s next big global industry.
California is home to 34 different electric vehicle manufacturers and electric vehicles in 2020 now make up the state’s biggest export. This global industry is a multi-trillion dollar opportunity for the state.
- Electric vehicles in 2020 became the state’s largest export. This is the next big global industry – a multi-trillion dollar opportunity for California, and anyone else who leads the electric vehicle market.
- CA stands out in market opportunity for EVs, and accounted for half of EV sales from 2010-17. (ICCT)
- The fifth annual Clean Jobs America report from E2 shows that from 2017-2020, U.S. clean energy was one of the fastest-growing jobs, employing 3.4 million before the COVID crisis hit. Led by EVs, clean vehicles are leading overall job growth: since June, clean vehicle employment in the United States has risen 26 percent.