Why Do Some People Hate Electric Cars? (Explained)

Everyone has a relative opinion about EVs. Some find it impressive while others simply criticize the make of it.

Reviews from different interviews tell us that a major reason ‌people dislike EV cars is because of the little knowledge they have in operating them.

To an extent, we agree because you can’t love what you can’t handle. Thus, in this article, we will discuss 10 reasons ‌people hate EV cars and try to remedy those misconceptions.

1. They Are Not Worth the Hype and Price

Some individuals find electric vehicles overly expensive for their worth. They feel the target audience is the affluent and not the middle class. This is not entirely true because there are some affordable EVs even cheaper than new traditional vehicles like the Nissan Leaf.

Also, EVs are easier to maintain and although they usually have higher upfront prices than gasoline vehicles, they are cheaper to maintain, especially cutting down on gas expenses. 

Another upside to EV cars is that they qualify for the federal tax credit from the US government. This makes them less cheap to own. In the long run, this tax will no longer be available but the general cost of electric cars will almost be in parity with conventional vehicles because of the large production and competitive market.

Another criticism of EVs is the hype around them. Some individuals feel they don’t deserve the praise they get, especially concerning their speed. This is quite hilarious because what do they expect from a vehicle that draws power and torque from electric motors?

This view should hinder no one from buying EVs, as their quick acceleration is just the tip of the iceberg.

2. Little Knowledge About Them 

Another major dislike for EVs is ignorance. According to AAA reviews, lack of knowledge slows the demand for electric vehicles and in the survey, about 58% of Americans did not believe in the driving range of electric vehicles.

They felt they would likely run out of battery during highway driving. This shows the large misconception about electric cars.

It is rarely ever the case for EVs to run out of battery because most car owners have their chargers at home. This means they could leave it plugged overnight to recharge and have enough juice for their journeys.

Some individuals are also not so sure what powers electric vehicles. According to The Drive, a Ford study showed that 42% of people still believe that EVs need gasoline to function.

Another study found out people believed that electric cars have poor acceleration and they would not function In cold regions. In fact, 85% of Americans stated ‌they would not buy an electric car if they lived in the Northern climate.

This apparently shows the big confusion concerning what an EV can do and cannot do. Thankfully, EV advocates are trying their possible best to clear this confusion as it directly affects the sale of electric cars.

3. Fire Hazard

News about some EVs catching on fire on the go has made some people outrightly believe that electric cars are time bombs. However, if we are being logical, gasoline cars have higher risks of catching fire once there’s a collision. People likely forget that since it’s so common.

EV cars use lithium batteries. It is the same used for most cell phones and laptops. We doubt there’s a single person who worries daily about their phones blowing up suddenly, while on the other hand, most people are more concerned about a fire hazard when it comes to gasoline.

4. Sparse Charging Points

Earlier, the charging points for EV cars were scarce, and it discouraged buyers from getting them because they felt “how would I charge my battery if it runs out on a long trip?”. Thankfully, charging points are now becoming commonplace.

Hotels and gas stations have also seen the need to install these charges. It is also advisable to pass through routes that have public chargers when traveling, but if these chargers are generally unavailable in your areas, please opt for a gasoline car.

5. Additional Electric Bill

To charge your electric vehicle at home, you’ll have to pay for the electricity. Thus, some individuals are particularly discouraged because of these additional expenses. However, facts and figures have shown that this method is 50% cheaper than refilling gas.

Even long-range electric vehicles that cost more on electricity bills are still not comparable to gasoline prices.

As stated by the EPA, charging an EV like the Nissan Leaf or Chevrolet Bolt only costs $500 per year and would save you $4000 over 5 years.

6. Limited Cargo Space 

Electric vehicles were also lambasted for having small trunks for luggage. To an extent, the claims were true as the cargo space was reduced because of the placement of the battery packs.

However, modern technology has made better adjustments to place the battery under the car’s floor. This method is called the “skateboard” style.

It frees up the trunk space for a larger luggage capacity. In fact, the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Bolt have larger trunk space than comparably sized conventional gasoline cars.

Related: Do Electric Cars Use More Battery At High Speed? (Solved)

7. No Service Centers

The sparse service centers for EVs have made many individuals dislike the idea of using them. It becomes worse when your local dealers do not even sell them. There’s a high possibility they’re not also certified to fix electric cars.

Luckily, common EVs have many service centers like GM, Ford, Nissan, etc. Tesla, on the other hand, is more professional as they send a personal technician to come directly to where you live.

The overall cost will be higher in this case, but on the good side, the maintenance cost for EVs is cheaper than gasoline cars.

8. Slow Charging Points

We all know that it is faster to fill your car with gas than it is to charge your electric vehicle. However, this is not a reason to hate them because as technology advances, the charging time reduces.

Some electric cars can add hundreds of miles in just 20 minutes. An added advantage is owning a charger. You can leave them plugged in overnight without having to worry about having to find public chargers.

If there’s a need to recharge on a long journey, it is advisable to take routes that have a public charger.

Tesla makes it easy as its cars have an advanced navigation system that locates superchargers and also shows the time required for a full charge. You also do not have to sit in your car while charging. Grab a meal!

Read also: Why Do Charging Electric Cars Take So Long? (Explained)

9. Battery Degradation

Some individuals do not believe in the capacity of EV batteries. They feel it can degrade or wear out on longer miles. This was believable because EVs haven’t been around for so long to take up an impressive amount of miles.

However, an ongoing survey has shown that most batteries only lose 8% of their power after 150,000 miles and they would keep 80% of their power after 500,000 miles. 

In addition, regarding the estimated range per battery charge, it gets better with time. The Nissan Leaf has an estimated range of 226 miles, while the Chevrolet Bolt has a rated range of 259 miles.

The Tesla and the Lucid Air edition have the highest range compared to all other electric vehicles. However, it is important to note that some EVs require a higher trim level to get the best of the range.

Related: 9 Electric Cars With LONG Battery Warranty (With Prices)

10. Reduced Market on Fossil Fuels 

Naturally, there is a heightened dislike by the producers of fossil fuels because of the rise of electric cars. This includes the refineries and gas stations.

They fear ‌they would run out of business in the long run because research shows that by 2029, almost all cars will be electric. This, in no small measure, would affect gasoline producers.

Unfortunately, there’s really nothing they can do about the rise of electric vehicles as they are the future of cars.

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