REVIEW
Myth-Busting in the
Tesla Model 3 Miss Dashboard dispels some popular misconceptions about electric cars Electric car use continues to hit the headlines, with the Government recently announcing that within 15 years no more new diesel or petrol cars (including hybrids, as they have petrol engines) will be sold in the UK. And, as I type, according to the industry website goultralow.com, an electric car is now registered here every seven minutes. But the myths surrounding EVs (electric vehicles) still seem to circulate in everyday conversation, on social media and from more traditional media sources. I recently got my hands on (and they had to prise them off finger by finger) the Tesla Model 3 – the ground-breaking electric car maker’s car for the masses – and it got me thinking that it was time to tackle some of these common misconceptions… Myth 1 – electric cars run out of electricity Like any car, you need to keep it topped up with ‘fuel’ (aka electricity) and, just like a mobile phone, charging at night is a simple habit. But a typical electric car now covers 100-200 miles on a single charge and even
26
COTSWOLD HOMES MAGAZINE
longer on some models. Hyundai’s Kona Electric can drive as far as 279 miles with one charge. You wouldn’t drive 300 miles without stopping for a coffee or a pee, so that’s when to re-charge. Myth 2 – they’re really expensive Electric cars are actually considerably cheaper to run than traditional cars, as they barely need servicing (they have fewer moving parts, no oil change), have zero road tax – and electricity is about seven times cheaper than diesel or petrol. It’s true that EVs are currently more expensive to buy (new) than their traditional counterparts, but as more mass production occurs, these costs will plummet. Myth 3 – they’re slow (and boring) ‘Oh no they’re not!’ Okay, so we can’t all afford the electric Porsche Taycan, but driving an electric car gives so much joy – and acceleration for those who want it. Instant torque means EVs can usually accelerate quicker than their petrol or diesel equivalents. Hyundai’s family car, the Kona Electric can accelerate from 0-62mph in just
7.9 seconds and Tesla Model 3 in as little as 3.2 seconds. Myth 4 – there’s nowhere to charge them in the countryside If you live in the middle of nowhere, you’re more likely to have a garage, or space for your own charge point, which is the easiest way to charge an EV. There are more public electric charging points in the UK than petrol stations! zap-map.com lists more than 14,500 public charging points in more than 9,000 locations in the UK – and the Government’s pledge to have 5,000 rapid public chargers by 2024 means that the infrastructure is going from strength to strength. Myth 5 – I live on a street, so I have nowhere to charge If you really want to drive (and charge) an EV there’s always an answer. Websites like pod-point.com give a range of solutions to people who don’t have driveways – from installing a charger in your street, to charging at a petrol station (how oldschool), at work and in other destinations like commercial car parks.