5 myths about electric cars

Photo Marie-Ève Dumont
Michel Savard has lent his BMW hybrid for a test period of electric vehicles held yesterday at the École de technologie supérieure in Montreal.

Marie-Eve Dumont

Wednesday, 28 march 2018 19:29

UPDATE
Wednesday, 28 march 2018 19:29

Look at this article

Too expensive, low battery life or not so environmentally friendly, there are still many myths surrounding electric vehicles. Before the extension of the discount to the purchase and installation of the terminal in the home to electric vehicles, the used announced in the budget, liberal Wednesday, the organization Équiterre has wanted to put the record straight on five myths that persist in the population.

The price

The cost to the purchase of an electric vehicle is 25% to 30% higher than a conventional vehicles.

“Many people are not taking into consideration that the cost to purchase then it is also necessary to see the economy to the use. It was a return in two to three years following the purchase by saving on fuel and on maintenance, ” says Marilène Bergeron of Équiterre.

Self

Most people overestimate their daily use. The average displacement of 40 km per day, well below the average autonomy of electric vehicles, which is around 185 km, explains Marilène Bergeron. For households with two vehicles, it would be interesting to replace one of them by an electric vehicle and keep the gas for long distances, offers.

The winter

It is true that the autonomy of the vehicle decreases by cold weather. It is about 20 % lower than normal. It remains, however, sufficient for the majority of daily trips. An electric vehicle does not need to be boosted [boost], insists Marilène Bergeron.

The charging

The vast majority of refills are in the house, coming to the end of the day, or on work environments, where the terminals are more and more numerous.

The network of electrical terminals is also well developed on the major roads or in traders, but it should be even more terminals fast, supports Michel Savard, owner of electric or hybrid vehicles for 16 years, met on Wednesday.

Not so ecological

The construction and use of electric vehicles would not be more environmentally friendly in the eyes of some, in particular because of the greater use of metals in manufacturing.

“Studies have assessed the environmental impacts from manufacturing to use. The electric vehicle is more environmentally-friendly. This is especially true in Québec because our electricity comes from a renewable and clean energy “, and hereby Bergeron.