Pure electric vehicles (EVS) are no longer deemed to be the ‘future’ of motoring, many would argue that they’re the present, and we’ve seen that with an increased uptake of new EVs in New Zealand.
New EV sales almost doubled in 2020 compared to 2018, however, there are still many myths about EVs that still seem to be lurking about. We run through the top misconceptions that still seem to be haunting our members.
EVs don’t have enough range
For some people, one of the biggest stumbling blocks when it comes to buying an EV is how far the car can travel on a full charge.
The lowest priced new EV for sale in New Zealand - the MG ZS EV (from $48,990 +ORC) - possesses a more-than-capable 44.5kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery that offers a very usable driving range of up to 263km from a single charge according to the WLTP combined cycle.
Even with a used second-generation Nissan Leaf (with 10 bars or more) you should be able to achieve around 100km.
At the top-end, the $159,990 (+ORC) Tesla Model S Long Range is capable of 663km on a full charge.
The Tesla Model S Long Range has a range of 663km
These examples debunks this common myth, and as manufacturing advancements improve driving range, we will only see the range improve.
Electric vehicles cost the earth
During a recent AA survey, 59% of people said that EVs cost too much for what they are.
While some electric vehicles are on the pricier side, there are currently quite a few options that are under $70,000 (+ORC).
We’ve already touched on the MG ZS EV, which is available at a similar price point to a mid-spec Mazda CX-5.
The MG ZS EV is available from $48,990 (+ORC)
There are also several electric hatches here in NZ, such as the MINI Electric from $60,400 (+ORC), the Nissan Leaf $61,990 (+ORC), the Hyundai IONIQ from $65,990 (+ORC) and the Volkswagen e-Golf from $69,490 (+ORC).
The entry-level Tesla Model 3 recently had a price reduction and is now available from $69,990 (+ORC).
EV batteries don’t last
Even the cheapest EV has an eight-year 160,000km warranty on the high voltage EV battery, so manufacturers have good confidence in the durability of their batteries.
EV batteries can also take on a second life once the battery becomes too depleted to run a car. Take Volvo for example, which has a collaboration with BatteryLoop, a company within the Swedish Stena Recycling Group that re-uses batteries from the automotive industry.
Starting from April 2021, BatteryLoop and Volvo Cars will use batteries from electrified Volvo cars for a solar-powered energy storage system. This system will power charging stations for electrified cars and electric bikes at Swedish hygiene and health firm Essity’s business centre outside of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Here in New Zealand, the AA is heavily involved with the Battery Industry Group which has designed a product stewardship scheme for large batteries which includes utilising car batteries after they’ve been removed from cars.
Charging takes forever
Again if we look at the MG ZS EV, most owners will only charge their car on a regular 7kW wall charger, taking approximately seven hours. It can also be rapidly charged in 45 minutes to 80 per cent on a quicker public charger.
The new Porsche Taycan is equipped with a new 800-volt charging technology along with an innovative temperature control strategy for the battery. This allows the vehicle to be charged with higher direct currents, thus speeding up the charging process significantly. For example, in just over five minutes the battery can be recharged to gain a range of up to 100 kilometres (according to WLTP), and the charging time from five to 80 percent in less than 23 minutes.
The Porsche Taycan has 800-volt charging technology
EV cars are boring and slow
Some still hang onto an historic notion of EVs being slow, possibly based on older lead acid battery EVs of the past.
This is one of the biggest misconceptions about EVs, as the instant torque found produced by electric motors make them, in many ways, sportier than their petrol equivalents.
The Porsche Taycan Turbo S is available from $289,900 (+ORC) and can do 0-100km/h in just 2.6 seconds, and Tesla’s upcoming ‘Plaid’ variants will be able to hit 100km/h in as little as 2.1 seconds. Even the entry-level Tesla Model 3 can dash from 0-100km/h in 5.6 seconds.