- New research carried out by BYD UK shows that a proportion of the British public still believe common and easily-dispelled EV myths.
- Whilst other research has suggested that older generations are more hesitant to switch to EV, BYD’s research found that older generations were in fact the most likely to reject these EV falsehoods.
- With the UK working towards a ZEV deadline of 2030 (with an exemption for hybrids until 2035), the results show a clear need for increased consumer messaging on EVs in the run up to the end of the decade.
BYD survey shows the most common EV myths held by Brits
The survey, which was carried out on 2,000 people in the UK, found that of the seven most common misconceptions on electric cars, 89% of those surveyed over 55 rejected all seven claims – compared to just 17% of 18 to 24 year olds rejecting all seven of the claims.
The top seven misconceptions, in order of agreement from respondents, is listed below:
- ‘You cannot take an EV charger with you when moving house’ – 18% agree
- ‘An EV can have a manual gearbox’ – 17% agree
- ‘An EV cannot drive through water’ – 14% agree
- ‘EVs will not last as long as ICE cars’ – 13% agree
- ‘EVs can charge themselves’ – 13% agree
- ‘EVs cannot be towed’ – 11% agree
- ‘EVs cannot get wet or go through a car wash’ – 7% agree
The most commonly held myth was a belief that an EV charger cannot be taken with you when moving house, with 18% of respondents agreeing with this myth. Fighting this misconception, to prove that EV drivers won’t be set with another costly EV installation when moving house, could be key to further driving electric car adoption in the country. Besides that, with EV ownership becoming ever more common, many house buyers are willing to pay an addition premium for homes that have an EV charger already installed – allowing the original owners to recoup the costs when moving house.
The myth that EVs can charge themselves may have been born out of the advertising of early non-plug-in hybrids such as the Toyota Prius, with the claim that they can ‘charge themselves’ – when in reality, the ICE motor is providing the juice. The two myths around EVs and water not mixing are another area to be disproved. EVs are already built to the same standards as their ICE counterparts, allowing them to safely drive through certain levels of water – and being rained on or going through a car wash are certainly not a problem. The fact that ICE cars have already been carrying complex electronic systems for decades without issue should further prove this.
Even under the most commonly held myth, the vast majority of respondents still successfully denied the claim, showing that much of the UK public is already well-educated on the various aspects of EV ownership. However, to ensure no-one is left behind in the EV transition, it’s crucial that positive and fact-checked messaging around EVs continues in years to come. That’s particularly pertinent whilst certain media outlets continue to push EV disinformation – the popular false claim that last year’s Luton airport car park fire was caused by an EV being a prime example.
Steve Beattie, Sales and Marketing Director at BYD UK, commented:
“Our research shows that while electric vehicles are changing the way we drive, there are still a lot of misconceptions out there. Clearing up these myths is key to building trust and helping drivers feel confident about EV technology as we move towards a zero-emission future.
At BYD, we’re focused on helping drivers understand the realities of electric vehicles and making sustainable transport more accessible to everyone. By tackling these myths head-on, we hope to encourage more people to see the benefits of EVs and make the switch.”
