Uncovering electric vehicle myths, lies and disinformation
- by Livewire Markets
- May 07, 2024
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Two years ago, we published Electric Vehicles: The road to disruption. Published ten years after the launch of the Tesla Model S and the birth of the modern electric vehicle (EV) industry, it looked at the ability of EVs to disrupt the motor vehicle industry and the possibility that EV sales would exceed market expectations.
This article looks at the developments in the EV industry in the two years since, including EV sales, pricing, and advances in battery technology. It also looks at the growing phenomenon of EV myths and disinformation, often traceable to interests aligned with the fossil fuel industry, and fact checks some of those claims.
Sales continue to soar
Sales of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEV) reached 14.1 million units in 2023, 34% higher than 2022 and more than double 2021. EVs now represent over 16% of all light vehicle sales.
Source IEA, ev-volumes.com, Betashares.
EV sales in 2023 exceeded market expectations by around 300,000 vehicles largely due to higher-than-expected sales in China, where the EV market share is now 33%.
In North America, EV sales rose 47% to 1.6 million in 2023, while in European EV sales rose 31% to 3.3 million.
The introduction of point-of-sale tax credits on EVs in the US is expected to support continued growth in that market, despite the headwind of higher interest rates. In Europe, subsidy changes in France and Germany may see slightly lower rates of growth in those markets(1).
Battery prices plummet⦠Myth 2: EV are worse for the climate than an ICE
This piece of misinformation states that because of emissions during manufacturing, and the fact that EVs are charged from fossil fuel generated electricity, they are worse for the environment than an ICE vehicle. Fuelled by pseudo-science studies from fossil fuel-funded think tanks like the Manhattan Institute and Australiaâs Institute of Public Affairs, this myth is repeated so often it is occasionally quoted as fact by the mainstream media.
Electric vehicles (EVs) have no tailpipe emissions. Generating the electricity used to charge EVs, however, may create carbon pollution. However, even accounting for these electricity emissions, research shows that an EV is responsible for lower levels of greenhouse gases (GHGs) than an ICE. To the extent that more renewable energy sources are used to generate electricity, the total GHGs associated with EVs could be even lower.
There have been numerous studies estimating the lifetime emissions of EVs versus ICEs. They consistently show that the lifetime emissions from an EV, even when charged on the most carbon intensive of grids, is lower than a comparable ICE.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy/Argonne National Laboratory
Myth 3: EVs have insufficient range for Australian conditions
While Australians may think of ourselves as living in a wide-open land, the reality is 90% of us live in just 0.22% of the countryâs land area(10). On average, we drive just 33 kilometres a day(11). Even on the iconic family road trip, few of us drive more than 500km in a day, and certainly not more than that without a break.
The average EV in Australia has a range of over 300 kilometres with some models such as the Polestar 2 Long Range, Tesla Model 3 Long Range, and Hyundai Ioniq 6 Dynamic offering greater than 600 kilometres on a single charge. Fast charging infrastructure in Australia is rolling out fast, with plans to locate a charger within every 70-100 kilometres by the end of the decade(12).
Myth 4: EV batteries cause âapocalypticâ fires
When the roll-on, roll-off (RORO) car carrier Fremantle Highway spectacularly caught fire, both social and mainstream media was quick to blame an EV battery as the cause of the fire. However, all 498 electric vehicles on the ship were recovered without significant damage, and none of them contributed to the fire, the cause of which remains unknown(13).
EV battery fires are a concern, because they burn fiercely and can release toxic gases with the risk of vapour cloud explosions. EV battery fires are difficult to extinguish, as they are impervious to common fire suppressants. However, they are extremely rare.
In Australia, there have been two fires attributed to EV batteries. One battery was damaged and had been removed from the vehicle, the other was pierced by a large piece of road debris. According to research, an EV passenger vehicle is around 100 times less likely to catch fire than an ICE(14).
Myth 5: You canât tow a boat with an EV
The claim that EVs canât tow is patently false, with many models in the Australian market listing regulation-compliant tow capacities(15). In fact, electric motors with their abundant torque are ideal for towing heavy loads, which is why we use them on trains and trams. Towing will reduce the range of an EV, so some planning around charging may be required for longer road trips. But the claims of EV sceptics simply donât stack up.
Mini Electric towing a Boeing 777
Source: evcentral.com.au
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