Van Batenburg: Eight More Myths About EVs

Now that electric vehicles (EVs) must stand on their own, more myths are circulating on social media than ever before. They then get repeated in the bays and service counters all over America.

 

I normally work at least five days a week. I own an xEV training center (www.fixhybrid.com) and recently reopened an Electric Vehicle Auto repair shop (www.worcesterevs.com) and that keeps me busy. The shop is staffed by two techs, Aiden and John, who need little support from me.

 

On Fridays, when I am not teaching classes, I call on potential new customers. Many shop owners know me from my days as the president of the Automotive Service Association, Massachusetts chapter, and the owner of the Automotive Career Development Center (ACDC), a Massachusetts- certified emissions training company.

 

Last Friday, I visited about 10 shops. One manager/technician greeted me by name and said he enjoyed my recent MTD column and added, “Too bad EVs are going away.” I was curious as to why he thought that. He made it perfectly clear that every myth I had written about was not a myth, but a fact - and he was sure of it. I left wondering how he would adapt. Here are eight more myths about EVs:

 

1. All lithium-ion batteries rely on unethical or toxic materials. Partially true. While some critical materials like cobalt have been linked to human rights abuses in mining, new battery chemistries and transparent sourcing are improving the industry. Many manufacturers are exploring alternative battery technologies, such as lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) chemistries, which do not use cobalt or nickel. 

 

2. Battery plants do not create American jobs. False. Investments in battery manufacturing have already created thousands of jobs in the U.S. and are expected to create hundreds of thousands more in the coming years. The EV market is driving a manufacturing renaissance in many states. From 2015 to 2023, investments in U.S. EV and battery manufacturing created more than 175,000 new jobs. With EV sales slowing, there are layoffs and some new plant construction is on hold. 

 

3. Battery recycling is not working out. True 10 years ago, but not true now. The battery recycling industry is growing rapidly and technologies are evolving to make the process more efficient. Once the packs reach the end of their useful life in a car, used batteries can be repurposed for a "second life" in energy storage systems. Advanced recycling companies are recovering and reusing valuable materials like lithium, cobalt and nickel.

 

4. EVs are too expensive to buy. Partially true.  While EVs' upfront purchase prices can be higher, their total cost of ownership is lower. Falling battery prices have helped lower the entry-level cost of a new EV below $30,000, without incentives. The used market is competitive with gas cars.

 

5. Charging an EV is expensive. False. Charging an EV is significantly cheaper than fueling a gasoline car, with cost-per-mile being much lower. Some exceptions are Hawaii and Alaska. Home charging can be particularly inexpensive, especially with home solar. 

 

6. EVs require costly, frequent maintenance. False. EVs have simpler mechanical designs, with fewer moving parts than internal combustion engine cars, leading to lower maintenance costs and fewer service appointments. They also don't require oil changes, spark plugs, exhaust, fuel systems and more. Worcester EVs replaced a 2013 Tesla battery pack that lasted over 208,000 miles. Using a low- mileage used pack it made financial sense to the owner that bought his car new. 

 

7. EV batteries need replacing every five years. False.  Modern EV batteries come with long warranties - often eight years or more - providing significant coverage for defects or premature failure. Battery technology has improved in the last 10 years with 200,000 miles as a new norm. Most EVs sold today see an 8% loss of range after 200,000 miles. 

 

8. EVs are unsafe. False. On November 30, 2013, Roger Rodas and his friend and business partner Paul Walker, from the “Fast and the Furious” movies, died while driving a Porsche. I was working with Mr. Rodas at the time of his death. It was not the crash that killed them, but the fuel used to power the car. If they were in a Porsche Taycan EV, they may have survived, as their vehicle’s gasoline tank ruptured and the car caught on fire. One could argue that EVs are safer in every way than gas cars.

 

In conclusion, the truth, driven by data, seems to be in short supply these days. Making decisions about your future, as a tire dealer or technician, will pay off if you get it right. Study science, make plans for an overheating world and see if you agree with the vast majority of people that we need to make a shift in our business plans.