EVs are the wave of the future, and they are increasing in popularity. However, there is a significant segment of the population that hates electric cars. Much of this hate comes from “car guys and girls” — or passionate automotive enthusiasts. Let’s explore why these car enthusiasts have very negative opinions about EVs.
Misunderstandings about EVs
First off, we’re not here to “talk smack” about “car guys and girls.” They are a big part of our audience, and we thank them for their viewership. However, if you’ve ever read the comment section of articles or social media posts about electric cars, predictably, you’ll often find derisively negative (and sometimes toxic) comments from rapid car enthusiasts.
Frequently, this hatred is due to misunderstandings about EVs. One of these misconceptions is that electric cars are weak for performance — little more than glorified golf carts. This is likely born from the earlier days of EVs — when electric cars were not as advanced, as detailed by Sharp. However, now, many electric cars are superior to gas-powered cars for performance. With the instantaneous torque from electric motors, EVs deliver quick acceleration that most gas-powered cars can’t match.
Another criticism of electric cars from automotive enthusiasts is the relatively low driving range. For many, there’s a perception that drivers of EVs often get stranded as the cars run out of battery power. However, this rarely happens. The range of today’s electric cars is adequate for most drivers. In fact, some drivers with home chargers will go for many months without ever having to use a charging station while on the road. Also, the range of EVs is continuously improving — and with advancements in battery and charging technology, it might surpass that of gas-powered cars in the future.
Also, many “car guys and girls” incorrectly think that electric cars are prone to fires. This is probably because of some highly publicized electric car fires, such as the Chevy Bolt EV. However, as studies have shown, electric cars actually catch fire considerably less than gas-powered cars.