Electric vehicles (EV’s) are becoming more and more common on the roads. Many companies are moving towards an “electric future”, including major US companies like Ford (F150 electric truck anyone?)
Whenever I see a news article that discusses EV’s, the comments section is often full of critics. These critics often trot out the same stuff, over and over and over again. I get sick of the misinformation and logical fallacies.
So here is some of what I see:
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A variant on "I need a vehicle to do “X”. EV’s do not do “X”. Therefore EV’s are stupid and will never catch on.
“X” may be “I commute 350km each and every day to work”
or “I have to haul 1000kg of hay” -
The old “EV’s are like golf carts, and can’t even get up a hill”, or “EV’s can only go 10km between charges” or some other non-factual piece of crap.
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“If more than 2 people on a block have EV’s you’ll crash the grid.” Really. My EV charges on a 110V, 15 amp circuit. It draws as much as a toaster.
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“Your EV will burst in to flames and kill you”. Ummmm No. Gas cars have more fires per mile driven, and the fires are quicker and more dangerous.
5." EV’s are made with horrible materials that are from open pit mines, and batteries cannot be recycled. " Usually accompanies with pictures of an open pit COPPER mine. And yes, batteries can be recycled, and are being recycled.
- EV’s don’t have enough range. (variant on the commuting 350 km/day above). They have enough range for a huge majority of people.
As I try to say to many of them - "If an EV does not work for your personal situation - fine. But don’t try to tell me what works for MY SITUATION.
Generally, these folks break into two groups:
- The misinformed or those who don’t know any better
- Those who are deliberately and knowingly spreading false information
The latter can be seen on Every. Single. Discussion. about EV’s .