Even though they continue to increase in popularity, it still feels as though there is a lot of mystery, confusion, and wonder over the advantages and disadvantages of driving electric.
Here we’ll take a look at which electric car rumours are true and false to shed some more light on electric vehicles.
Rumour one: electric cars cannot be charged in the rain
Put this one in the false column. You don’t have to worry about electrocution when charging your car in the rain, as chargers and their cables are water-resistant. So too is the electric charger itself, which has a minimum waterproof rating of IP44.
This means that it can withstand water splashes from all directions, and some vehicle chargers far exceed this minimum standard.
Rumour two: electric cars cannot be taken through a car wash
This is false. An electric car can go through a car wash with no issues whatsoever. Heavy rain, hailstorms, and deep puddles are also no problem for electric vehicles and are no more problematic than in a petrol, diesel, or hybrid vehicle.
Rumour three: rapid electric car chargers are not always ‘rapid’
True. A car’s battery does not always charge at the fastest rate possible when connected to a rapid charger. The rate can fluctuate while the car charges, slowly reaching 80% charged and then increasing rapidly. Slowing the charge rate minimises wear on the battery and extends its lifespan.
Rumour four: electric cars can still be inefficient
This is true. If you have a small, light electric vehicle, then it’s likely you’ll only need to use a small amount of electricity to run it; a more powerful model can quickly get through its charge. And since 37% of the world’s electricity comes from coal-fired power plants, electric cars aren’t necessarily as clean as they’re portrayed.
Rumour five: electric cars cannot be towed
Another true rumour. If an electric car is towed, it can be damaged. Normally, a car’s driven wheels provide electricity to charge the battery as it slows down. The ‘regenerative braking’ technology could produce too much heat when the car is being towed and is off.
Due to this heat possibly damaging the electric motor, electric cars will always be recovered from a breakdown using a trailer.
Rumour six: electric cars are slow
False. The Tesla Model 3, which is by no means known as a high-performance model, hits 60mph in 3.1 seconds. To optimise handling, it also comes with low suspension and ‘track mode’ to fine-tune its behaviour to suit the motorist’s capabilities.
