Buying a new car needs to be carefully considered. This is especially true if it is to be an electric car for the first time. Myths about electric cars and their batteries are often likely to unsettle buyers. We have taken a closer look at six battery myths and revealed why you shouldn’t let them dissuade you.
It’s not easy to decide on the right vehicle when buying a car. However, there is much to suggest that drivers make the better choice with an electric car. If it weren’t for the uncertainties surrounding electric cars and their batteries, which still concern many potential switchers. Fire hazard? Does the battery die after a short time? Things aren’t nearly as bad with electric car batteries as you might think.
Myth No. 1: Electric car batteries quickly give up the ghost
And, Batteries don’t last forever like so many things. The batteries in electric cars also lose capacity over time and the vehicle therefore loses range. But the fact is: Even if the battery in an electric car runs out after a while or has to be replaced due to a defect, the environmental impact of the vehicle is still not over.
On the contrary, manufacturers are working on recycling processes that can help reuse over 90 percent of the raw materials in a battery. But before that happens, a battery’s second life usually begins after its time in the car. In second life use E-car batteries will continue to be used as electricity storage devices – just no longer in the car, but collected, for example, as additional storage for industry or to store surpluses from the home photovoltaic system.
Myth #2: Replacing batteries will ruin you
If the battery is actually destroyed through your own fault and no insurance pays – yes, then it can actually be financially painful to replace the battery in an electric car. The battery is still the most expensive component. But manufacturers are also aware of this and a solution is provided twice as much.
Lease an electric car and collect a €6,000 bonus
On the one hand, the manufacturers give generous guarantees on the capacity of their batteries. 70 percent battery capacity after eight years or 150,000 kilometers driven – whichever comes first – is the minimum standard in the industry. If you use the vehicle in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications and if you as a driver follow the instructions for charging the battery, the car manufacturer will have to cover the costs of a new battery if the worst comes to the worst.
On the other hand, electric car batteries are built in such a way that they… can be repaired: If you notice a defect or the performance drops unexpectedly early or sharply, this can often be remedied by replacing a battery module, not the entire battery. Even then, of course, the guarantee can still apply. If not, you’ll get it cheaper than a completely new battery.
Myth No. 3: High risk of fire from electric car batteries?
Since electric cars have been on the roads more often, there have been a number of recalls because some electric vehicles had caught fire. However, these could not be directly attributed to the battery. ADAC experts generally rate the safety of modern cars as high. When it comes to the risk of fire, for example after an accident, the type of drive does not matter. That means: Whether a combustion engine or an electric car makes no difference in terms of fire risk.
Even if the fire brigades have to work differently, the following applies: “E-cars burn differently, but it is not crucial for the outcome whether there is a high-performance battery or 80 liters of fuel on board,” says Karl-Heinz Knorr, Vice President of the German Fire Brigade Association ( Source: dpa via Zeit).
Myth No. 4: Full throttle once and the battery is immediately empty
The range is such an issue: so far it is still lower for the average electric car than for many combustion engines. But in recent years it has been increased significantly and manufacturers are working on new maximum values. A However, the driving style has a much greater influence: If you constantly drive at full throttle, you not only empty the battery of an electric car more quickly, but also the tank of diesel and petrol engines. The new technology doesn’t change that.
That’s why the battery doesn’t run out immediately if you drive faster for a few minutes. By the way: It is also better for the battery not to always use recuperation in order to get more range. “Sailing” often takes you furthereven at higher average speeds.
When it comes to costs, the decision between combustion engines and electric cars has not yet been made:
Myth No. 5: The range of electric cars decreases significantly in winter
There is definitely something to it: in winter you want to be warm in your car and the heating is also supplied with energy by the battery. But as with fast driving, the same applies here: This is not just an electric car problem. Even with combustion engines, consumption is slightly higher in winter. In addition, the air conditioning also needs electricity in summer. So you can’t guarantee that you’ll be better off with an electric car in the hot months.
Experts advise not to take into account the full range according to the manufacturer’s information. But with a few tips you can make it more pleasant without wasting too much battery: if you’re driving alone, for example more effective to keep warm with seat heating, than heating the entire interior.
In general, temperatures outside the battery’s comfort zone can occur in both summer and winter. During operation it is around 20 °C, for storage it can be up to 10 °C. Modern electric cars use software with battery management systems to ensure that these areas are adhered to as far as possible. So when the temperatures drop in winter, the battery also needs to be heated.
Myth #6: Charging an electric car takes forever
Stopping to charge an electric car takes longer than simply filling up the tank. Fast chargers and batteries are becoming more and more powerful, but nothing changes this truth: charging usually takes longer. But it is also true: The break from the fast charger should be good for many drivers, especially on long journeys. So she is no wasted time. In addition, constant fast charging can wear out the battery more quickly.
If you want to do something good for yourself and your electric car, you should enjoy the charging break on the go – and if it’s not important to continue driving soon, you can also charge at your home wallbox or a public charging station with less power. Your battery will thank you.
By the way: There are now the first manufacturers who are reducing the charging time to such an extent that refueling is no longer necessarily faster:
Did you enjoy the post? Follow us on WhatsApp and Google News and don’t miss any news about technology, games and entertainment.