Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) myth busting
While the ban on new petrol and diesel car sales has been moved back to 2035, the trajectory for new Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) sales remains upward. Inevitably, the trend for used BEV sales will follow in the months ahead.
We recognise that change brings challenges and concerns, which is to be expected. A vital role for all of us is to encourage debate with customers and address concerns and what sometimes are myths.
Based on solid evidence, here are some potential myths busted;
Multi-storey car parks are not built for the weight of EVs
Multi-storey car parks, like roads and bridges, are built to withstand much greater loads than even the heaviest EV. On average, an EV weighs 200-300kg more than a petrol car because of the weight of the battery and electric motors. However, a large petrol or diesel car weighs more than an average-sized EV.
Battery Life is a problem for used car buyers
The Vehicle Remarketing Association (VRA) published a white paper on this very issue in October. It had the VRA chair, Philip, reflecting that concerns “are largely unfounded.”
While some older EVs, such as the early Nissan Leafs, did not have thermal management systems, which impacted battery degradation, newer technologies, such as batteries from mid-2010 Teslas, show degradation of less than 10% after 160,000 miles.
We must recognise that a petrol or diesel car at 160,000 miles is not in the first flush of youth either.
The EV car production process is not environmentally friendly
Making an EV does require more energy than producing an ICE car. However, on average, an EV’s pollution ‘debt’ is settled after about 22 months.
Most of a vehicle’s emissions occur during the portion of its life when it is driven. And electric vehicles deliver a benefit no ICE-powered car can. Over its lifetime, the average electric vehicle produces less than half the carbon pollution of an ICE-powered vehicle.
EVs are unaffordable
The cost of many used BEVs has fallen, as we all know, and now, some BEVs are cheaper than ICE equivalents.
There is a case for the government to replicate the positive effect tax incentives have had on new BEVs for used BEVs.
And then there are lifetime savings; for example, based on common charging behaviours (in which the majority of charging is done at home - almost 80% of EV drivers regularly charge at night when tariffs offering much cheaper electricity rates are readily available), the ECIU has found that the popular electric Renault Zoe is 2.8 times cheaper to fuel than its petrol equivalent, the Renault Clio. Based on an 8,000 annual mileage, the driver of the Zoe could expect to save over £730 a year in fuel costs.
Chris Rowthorn, Director of Motor Sales Operations
