12 of the most common EV myths

Electric cars are nothing new, having quietly roamed our streets since as early as 1837.

But while the history of electric cars is a long and innovative one, it’s only in more recent years that popularity has truly rocketed.

Whether fueled (excuse us) by increased model choice, better battery technology, financial incentivisations, a growing charging infrastructure or the impending removal of new ICE vehicles from dealership forecourts, the fact remains that EVs are here to stay. 

In fact, according to Zapmap, a massive 25.6% of all new cars sold in May 2024 were either fully electric or plug-in hybrid (PHEV).

Our own data surpasses this already impressive statistic with over 80% of sales so far this year being battery electric vehicles (BEV).

Dare we call it a surge in popularity?

Despite more of us choosing an electric car lease, many myths about EVs still permeate our news and social media feeds. And while they won’t suit everyone (what does?) it’s important our buying decisions are based on facts over false news.

Enter our glorious leader, Matt Woodward, who is here to dispel the 12 most common EV myths. 

Backed by over 20 years of industry experience (we know, he doesn’t look a day over 18), 1000s of EV sales under his belt and a whole host of data and insight from supporting partners and external research sources.

Ready to go EV myth busting?

EV myth number one: Electric cars are at more risk of catching fire

We’re relying on a great source on EV myth busting for this one, Fair Charge’s little book of EV myths.

The headline is that, while still extremely rare, internal combustion engine (ICE) cars – those that use petrol and diesel to you and me -  are actually 20 times more likely to catch fire than an EV.

Quoting the UK Fire Service, only 239 out of 100,000 vehicle fires were electric between 2022 and 2023. 

That’s just 0.24%. 

In Sweden the disparity is even wider, with just 23 out of 611,000 vehicle fires (0.004%) put down to electric vehicles.

America’s National Transportation Safety Board suggests 25 out of every 100,000 EVs sold suffer fires, whereas this is 1,530 for petrol vehicles.

However, it’s important to note that quenching an EV fire is more complex due to the battery component, and therefore can take longer. 

But if your car spontaneously catching fire is a concern, data suggests that wherever you are in the world, choosing an EV is statistically safer.

EV myth number two: You’re more likely to run out of charge

We all know a risk taker that loves running their fuel gauge on red.

And, on the other end of the spectrum, there are those like me who get jittery with anything less than half a tank.

As sure as our driving style, our choice of car colour and perhaps our choice of car brand can say a lot about us, our tendency to roll the dice on topping up on fuel or charge does too.

It’s less about the car, more about the driver.

So, this is one EV charging myth we can happily debunk.

Looking at the facts, research by Tusker confirms that becoming stranded due to a lack of charge is no more likely than running out of fuel in a petrol or diesel car.

It will take longer to get going again in an EV, but The AA corroborate Tusker’s findings.

Their callout figures until April 2024 confirm that just over 2% of EV breakdowns were due to depleted charge. They predict that this will drop to only 1% this year to be exactly on par with ICE counterparts.

EV myth number three: There aren’t enough public charging points

Popular charging app Zapmap says differently.

At the end of May 2024, a total of 62,536 charging points exist across the UK in 32,992 locations. This represents a 43% increase compared to 12 months earlier.

The truth is, that’s already far more than the 8353 petrol stations out there. 

In even better news, it’s forecast that this will increase to over 100,000 by August 2025.

Now, there’s no denying that this increase is necessary based on the turnaround at an EV charger being slower – estimated at 3x as long for each session depending on conditions.

And you have to trust, like a campsite washing machine, that someone comes back to collect their wears on time and doesn’t keep you waiting. 

But investment and commitment to improving the charging infrastructure remains high from both Government and the private sector.

Still have range anxiety? Here are our top picks for long range EVs.

EV myth number four: EVs are more expensive

List price is a fair concern, with EVs tending to cost more upfront than petrol or diesel equivalents.

However, when comparing the cost of the best electric car lease deals at Carparison, many of them undercut ICE alternatives by some margin.

And when considering lifetime costs, EVs come up trumps. 

The reality is once you’ve driven away in your shiny new EV, you can be content knowing that running costs are significantly reduced too. 

Servicing schedules are longer, due to electric cars having less moving parts, and the cost of filling up is less than at the fuel pumps, especially for the 60% of us eligible for a home charger.

All that is before even considering the tax savings currently available via business contract hire and the massive savings available through salary sacrifice.

Furthermore, market research provider Gartner concludes that lowering EV production costs means that by 2027 EVs will actually become cheaper to make than ICE equivalents.

EV myth number five: EV drivers don’t enjoy it and return to ICE

In contrast to this statement, research by the Electric Vehicle Association (EVA) revealed that 91% of EV drivers are satisfied with their car and wouldn’t return to ICE.

The survey of 1,600 UK drivers concludes that the experiences of EV owners, including public charging, are extremely positive.

Supporting the figures above, 86% found their EV cheaper to run and 92% would recommend an electric vehicle to loved ones.

Consumer insights provider GWI’s 2023 research also confirmed that 90% of UK electric or plug in hybrid owners are satisfied or very satisfied with their car charging experience.

Contrary to what some tabloids might say, driving an EV is pretty popular it seems.

EV myth number six: Home charging isn’t possible for everyone

Now we aren’t claiming to debunk this myth, as it’s actually true: current charging infrastructure can’t support home chargers in all locations.

This could be down to safety concerns about having wires trailing across public walkways, the distance from available power sources or indeed knowing who’s responsible for paying the electric bill, among other reasons.

In many cases it can be a fight to get a dedicated parking spot at a property at all.

But not having acess to a home charger shouldn’t put you off going electric altogether.

What do you do if you aren’t one of the two thirds of the UK population with a driveway, or you won’t benefit from the fact that all new housing developments are required to have an EV charger as standard?

You’ll be dependent on the fast-growing public charging network, including the 22,000 lamp post, bollard or on-street chargers currently available. 

Alternatively, you can recharge at some car parks, or make use of ‘destination charging’ when you head out for the day – which equate for 46% of the UK’s charger total.

It may also be possible to use charging facilities at your workplace.

Enter Carparison’s ultimate guide to EV charging, which we hope has some really useful guidance if this is applicable to you.

EV myth number seven: There’s not a lot of choice 

As of the end of 2023, you have 197 different EV models to choose from across 39 manufacturers.

And there’s no business claiming these models are all the same, with the electric car range in the UK catering for varied budgets, electric ranges, sizes and styles.

All you have to do is look at a GWM ORA 03, compared to a Tesla Model Y, compared to a Nissan Leaf or a Genesis GV70. 

Spoilt for choice? We’d say so.

We’ve also seen an influx of East Asian brands launching in the UK in recent months, driving price and technological competition even further, including BYD, Nio and Omoda.

EV myth number eight: Insurers are reluctant to insure EVs

Now, it won’t have escaped anyone’s notice that car insurance premiums are one of the things driving up car running costs of late. In fact, Confused.com have claimed that premiums are up by 58% across all cars in the last 12 months.

The Guardian, based on figures between 2022 and 2023, claim that premiums are up by a third but that this is now easing.

It isn’t welcome news that you are likely to pay more to insure an EV than you are an ICE car, when it can be by as much as 10-25% according to Fair Charge.

While this should be considered in your budgeting, the belief that insurers are reluctant to insure EVs is misplaced.

We wouldn’t have been able to lease 1000s of EVs to very happy customers over the last few months if this were the case.

EV myth number nine: EVs aren’t suited to long journeys

Although electric range tends to be linked to how much you’re willing to spend, the average range among available EVs is 236 miles. But, many are available with significantly more juice than this.

It’s important to note the WLTP range figures will vary in the real-world, and ultimately depend on driving style and conditions, but this is no different to ICE cars.

Our current lowest cost EV is the ORA 03 Pro+ and this offers 261 miles (WLTP combined) - information correct at time of writing.

While many things affect our driving needs, and long journeys are likely to feature at least somewhere for most of us, most journeys are likely to be a doddle in an EV.

With the Department for Transport suggesting that 72% of journeys made are under 5 miles, you’ll have no issues nipping into town and back, or suffering the commute to work.

Impressively, the RAC Foundation found that new UK EVs travel an average of 9435 miles per year in their first three years of ownership, which is 26% further than a petrol car.

EV myth number ten: The grid can’t cope

National Grid EV myths deserve an article all to themselves. 

But here goes.

The National Grid estimates that demand would only increase by around 10% even if the UK fully switched to EVs overnight.

Renewable sources create excess power which is stored for periods of high demand. Plus, electricity demand has actually fallen 16% since 2022 due to the increase in what they call ‘technological efficiencies’.

This is further supported by smart charging, a feature of many EVs, that allows your car to be charged overnight during off-peak periods, and rewards you with lower tariffs accordingly.

There you have it. Straight from the horse’s mouth.

[Insert pun about horsepower]

EV myth number eleven: EVs are expensive to run

We’ve already covered a bit of this one earlier .

Yes, EVs are likely to cost more upfront and can be pricier to insure.

However, choosing the right electric car lease deal can prove more cost-effective than opting for a petrol or diesel one. Plus, ongoing costs including servicing and charging are reduced. Just compare the 20 moving parts in an EV to the 200+ in an ICE car.

Data from Lex Autolease suggests that EVs are between 27% and 37% cheaper to maintain than combustion engine equivalents.

Tusker estimates that maintaining their EV fleet costs 30% less than petrol, and a whopping 60% less than diesel. 

In February 2023, BookMyGarage.com evidenced that maintenance bills for EVs were 43% less for EVs.

Although there are many mitigating factors including your tariff, where you charge and the current cost of fuel, EVs are considered significantly cheaper to charge than ICE cars are to fuel.

EV myth number twelve: EV batteries degrade quickly

The fact that most manufacturers are offering 10-year or 100,000-mile warranties on their batteries instantly buries this myth into the dust. 

And twists it underfoot a little. 

It’s a statement of confidence from these manufacturers who simply couldn’t do so if product quality wasn’t up to scratch.

Tesla put their cars to the test as far back as 2022 and the average battery depreciation at 200,000 miles was only 12%. 

Show us an ICE car that makes it to 200,000 miles with its engine in such good nick, and we’ll eat our proverbial hats.

Why lease your EV?

So, you’ve got your heart set on an EV as your next car, but why is leasing the best way to fund it?

While there are a whole host of extra benefits of EV leasing for businesses, there are many reasons why people like you are choosing to lease their first or next electric car too.

Compared to buying an EV, leasing allows you to seamlessly change your car every few years.

Like other financing methods, you will be subject to a mileage limit and a fair wear and tear commitment. But otherwise, you’re paying a fixed price that’s protected from unpredictable depreciation, fast-developing technology and any resale hassle.

If you’re new to the world of EV, it also lets you test it out without any long-term commitment.

Unlike many other financing methods including PCP, you’re not financing the full value of the car and therefore aren’t footing a high interest bill as a result. With leasing, you only finance the agreed depreciation of the car.

And this is why you’ll generally see much smaller monthly payments.

With Carparison, you’re getting all the benefits of using a leasing broker. But you can trust you’ll be looked after based on 1000s of verified customer reviews, and you’re dealing with a company that cares about more than just its bottom line.

And we’re EV product specialists, having leased many thousands of them.

Not limited by distance, you can peruse every make and model from the comfort of your sofa, and your new electric vehicle will be delivered straight to your door - with a home EV charger already installed if you need one.

It’s our mission to put the ease in your next car lease.

And we’re ready to get going, if you are.