The most common myth Brits believe is that you cannot take an EV charger with you when you move. Nearly one in five (18%) respondents believe this.

Although an EV charger is installed and fixed at home, in reality, you can take the charger when you move home. Wall-mounted chargers can be reinstalled at your new address by an electrician. However, it’s worth comparing the costs for reinstalling a charger versus buying a new one as sometimes installation is included in the purchase.

17% of people believe an EV can be manual. Whilst most petrol and diesel cars are manual in the UK, electric cars are automatic by design. EVs have a constant power output, delivering consistent power, so they don’t need a clutch or gearbox.

However, it is possible to simulate manual driving in an electric car, which some manufacturers are developing. This would give drivers a feel of driving in a traditional car, whilst still having an automatic transmission.

14% of Brits believe an EV cannot drive through water. However, EVs are built with water resistance in mind and waterproofed components. Driving through water is no more dangerous than driving an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle through water.

The joint fourth biggest myth uncovered in our survey is that EV’s will not last as long as an ICE car. 13% of those surveyed believed this. In fact, electric cars are built to last as long as traditional cars, thanks to fewer moving parts and lower maintenance needs.

Not to mention, EV batteries come with long warranties which shows the confidence manufacturers have in the longevity of their vehicles. For instance, the BYD ATTO 3 battery is covered for 8 years, or 125,000 miles, whichever comes first.

The next biggest myth revealed in the survey is that electric cars can charge themselves, with 13% of respondents believing this.

This misconception might arise from regenerative braking which is often referred to as “self-charging”. Whilst regenerative braking does allow an EV to recover some energy when braking, it will not fully charge the vehicle so it’s still quite far from fully self-charging.

Regenerative braking helps electric cars to be very energy efficient, as the energy produced from the deceleration is turned into electricity and returned to the battery. The BYD DOLPHIN and BYD ATTO3 have two regenerative braking levels: normal and high. These levels change the force of the braking power. Regenerative braking not only helps extend the car’s range, so you can cover more miles, but also reduces the wear from brake pads. To completely charge the car, it will still need to be plugged in.

11% of Brits think an EV cannot be towed, which makes this the sixth biggest EV myth. Electric cars can be safely towed, as long as the correct guidelines are followed. The correct way to tow an electric car is by using a flatbed tow truck. This is in fact the safest way to tow all vehicles: electric or not.

Dolly towing, where only the rear two wheels touch the ground, is also suitable for electric cars as long as the EV can be switched to its neutral gear. It’s normally not recommended to tow an EV by its drive axle, as the driver motor(s) may produce kinetic energy that builds up and can damage the battery.

7% of respondents think an EV cannot go through a car wash or get wet. This misconception likely stems from the dangers of mixing water and electricity. However, electric cars are constructed with stringent safety standards, making them able to withstand exposure to water. This includes rain and car washes.

Interestingly, older generations were the most sceptical of electric car myths. Nearly 9 in 10 (89%) over 55s didn’t believe in any EV myth. 46% of those 65 and over, and 43% of those 55 to 64 completely rejected all EV myths. This could be attributed to a more cautious approach, where these drivers have taken the time to research before embracing new technology.

18 to 24-year-olds were the most likely to believe in EV myths, with only 17% stating they didn’t believe any of them were true. 25 to 34-year-olds followed closely with just 23% of this age group not believing in any EV myth.

This is surprising given that younger generations are often more familiar with new technology. However, this may reflect the influence of social media and the fast-paced spread of misinformation.

Our survey has uncovered that women were the most sceptical of EV misconceptions. 40% of women didn’t believe any of the myths, compared to only 29% of men. Studies have shown that women are more likely to research thoroughly before purchasing. This tendency to seek out detailed information could explain why fewer women fall for common EV myths.

Meanwhile, men might be more likely to rely on previous automotive knowledge, which, in the case of EVs, doesn’t always translate well to this new technology. This reliance on “traditional” car knowledge may leave some men more vulnerable to misconceptions about electric vehicles.



Methodology
We carried out a survey of 2,000 people in the UK, via OnePoll. The survey asked several questions about EVs to gauge the public's understanding and sentiment. Respondents could select multiple answer options.