Challenging 5 EV Myths

The electric vehicle world is continually growing. June saw a 14.6% increase in the volume of battery EVs in the UK, with the market share growing from 10.7% last year to 16.1% this year.

As the industry grows, so do driver questions over the value of purchasing, owning, and maintaining an EV – amidst all the concerns, is it worth it?

In this blog, we look at five common misconceptions around EVs that may re-focus your decision of whether to jump into the EV world.

EV Myth 1: EVs are more expensive than petrol/diesel vehicles

This is both correct and incorrect, depending on what you are defining as ‘expensive’.

The cost of purchasing an EV is higher than purchasing a petrol/diesel vehicle, with the average price for an EV in the UK standing at approximately £44,000.

The long-term saving

However, following this initial purchase, your EV will cost less in the long term. Firstly, the vehicle excise duty (‘road tax’) for hybrid electric vehicles is reduced, whilst battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are exempt from this tax. You will also be exempt from low emission zone charges, which in London would save you paying the daily rate of £12.50, and the £8.00 rate in Birmingham.

Secondly, the cost to charge your electric vehicle is significantly lower than the cost of fuelling a petrol or diesel vehicle. Figures as of June 2022 suggest it costs 9p per mile on average to drive a 100% electric car, whereas it costs 22p per mile to run a petrol car. As it costs 2.4 times less to drive an electric car, you will be making a huge saving.

Finally, the maintenance costs for your EV are also lower than those for an ICE vehicle. Go Ultra Low estimates the costs of EV maintenance are approximately 70% cheaper than maintaining your petrol or diesel vehicle.

Therefore, whilst the initial expenditure for an EV is higher than an ICE, the long-term savings are incomparable.

EV Myth 2: There is less choice for EVs on the market than ICE vehicles

Just as the demand for EVs continues to grow, more and more EV models are becoming available to buy. Nissan, Kia, BMW, Hyundai, Jaguar, Volkswagen, Tesla and other manufacturers have different models for you to choose from in the UK.

The models vary in price, from £27,000 for the Nissan Leaf to £40,000 for the Tesla Model 3. For a higher-end EV, consider the BMW i8 or Mercedes EQC.

We compiled a list of the best EVs coming to market.

EV Myth 3: EVs are bad for the environment

No manufacturing process is ever wholly environmentally friendly, but the long-term environmental benefits of driving an EV outweigh the impact your ICE vehicle has on the planet.

Firstly, your EV produces zero harmful exhaust fuels that an ICE does, meaning it does not contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution to the same extent.

Another important aspect of the EV driving experience is the energy source used to charge your vehicle. At Mer, for example, when we provide the electricity, our public charge points provide zero carbon, 100% renewable energy generated through wind, hydro, and solar sources, meaning you can power your vehicle with completely green energy.

EV batteries

The longevity of an EV battery (approx. 17 years) means degradation happens gradually over a long period of time, thus reducing the need for replacement.

Battery recycling is another way that helps manufacturers reduce the impact of EV production. At the end of its life, the battery can be re-cycled rather than heading to landfill, which is enforced by Government regulations.

Many EVs use lithium-ion batteries. The UK is continually developing its lithium extraction processes, meaning in the future we can reduce our carbon footprint by producing lithium domestically rather than outsourcing it from overseas.

EV Myth 4: The rise in EVs on the road will have a negative effect on the grid

It is predicted that the demand on the National Grid would rise by only 10% should everyone in the UK start driving an EV.

What is more, there are laws in place to prepare the grid for the increasing numbers of EVs on UK roads. New government regulations were introduced in June, which stipulate that charge points in the UK must have smart functionality. These regulations will see chargers pre-configured to ensure drivers are charging during off-peak periods, thus reducing the demand on the grid.

Vehicle-To-Grid charging offers another option for supporting the grid. This process takes electricity stored in your EV’s battery and directs it to the grid, which both provides energy for the grid at peak times and allows you to earn money from the energy you are providing.

EV Myth 5: The journey takes longer due to the difficulty of finding a charger

There are thousands of public charging stations across the UK. With an increase in EVs comes the improvement of platforms for finding charging points.

It is easier than ever to find Mer UK chargers. You can use Zap Map to search for Mer UK charge points. You can also use our Driver Portal to find your nearest charger. Simply head to our website to use the Portal, or download our free app.

Distribution is improving

Another EV myth within this topic is that charging infrastructure is localised within London, leaving the rest of the UK barren of any EV chargers. Per 100,000 of population, London has 102 public charging devices, admittedly making it the area with the highest concentration of chargers.

However, a relatively even distribution of chargers is developing across the rest of the UK too. Scotland has 52 public charging devices, followed by Wales with 33. The South East has 39 devices, whilst the North East has 36 and the East Midlands has 32 (figures accurate as of January 2022). No matter where you live, you can take advantage of the UK’s growing public charging network.