Ignorance of how EVs work is holding back uptake, says survey
A new survey conducted by YouGov has showed that belief in EV myths is holding back adoption, with most petrol car drivers scoring just a 2/10 in a quiz about how electric cars work.
The survey was commissioned by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), an independent nonprofit in the UK.
Conducted by YouGov, it asked 1,000 UK petrol/diesel car drivers ten questions about electric cars, mainly focused on popular pieces of misinformation that has been pushed by the oil industry and other entities that oppose cleaner, better vehicles.
The survey found that this misinformation is alive and well – and particularly alive and well among drivers who haven’t driven an EV.
Out of the petrol drivers surveyed, a majority of them, 57%, were only able to answer 2 out of 10 questions correctly, and 90% got less than half correct. There were a lot of “unsure” answers, so this doesn’t mean they got 8 wrong, but that’s still a pretty high failure rate. 23% of petrol drivers got zero questions right.
While we don’t have access to all the data and questions, here are some of the questions that ECIU highlighted:
- Nearly two-thirds (62%) of petrol drivers believe it’s more expensive to own and run an EV, with only 14% correctly recognising that EVs are typically cheaper. A report from ECIU found that the drivers of the top 10 selling petrol cars of 2023 can find themselves paying a petrol premium of £700 a year in running costs, compared to an equivalent electric car.
- 41% of petrol drivers incorrectly think that EVs are more likely to catch fire than petrol cars, with only 24% correct in their understanding that they are less likely to catch fire. Evidence from EV Fire Safe indicated that EVs are more than 80 times less likely to catch fire than petrol or diesel cars.
- More than half (59%) of petrol drivers thought the UK’s electricity grid “will not be able to cope” with the UK’s shift to EVs, whereas only one in five (20%) correctly identified this statement as false. The National Grid has explicitly labelled this a ‘myth’ and is clear that the power system will be able to cope with millions more EVs in the UK.
- 80% of petrol drivers think the UK is not on course to install the charging infrastructure it needs, despite the country being ahead of schedule to hit its target of 300,000 chargers on the UK’s roads by 2030.
- More drivers (35%) incorrectly believed that an EV’s lifetime CO2 emissions are no less than those of a petrol car than correctly identified this statement as false (32%). An EV being driven in the UK produces three times less lifetime CO2 emissions that an equivalent petrol or diesel car.
Though there were a few questions that drivers answered right more than they answered wrong:
- 37% recognized that more EVs running on British renewable electricity would make the UK more energy independent than relying on increasing imports of oil and petrol. 29% agreed with the incorrect statement that EVs would weaken the UK’s energy independence.
- 54% correctly disagreed with the statement that EVs are not better for urban air quality than petrol cars. Only 28% believed this statement to be true.
- More petrol drivers (39%) correctly disagreed with the statement that EVs pose a threat to the structural integrity of the UK’s car parks than incorrectly agreed with it (33%).
More EV knowledge = greater purchase intent
But the point here is not that non-EV drivers are ignorant. It’s to show how these falsehoods are affecting EV uptake, which in turn means worse air quality and worse effects of climate change for everyone on Earth.
Of the drivers who scored the highest – 8/10 or more correct answers – 64.6% of them said they want their next car to be an EV. But of the drivers who scored 2/10 or less, only 6.1% wanted their next car to be an EV. So those with the most accurate information were 11 times more likely to want an EV than those who had fallen victim to misinformation.
This shows that widespread misinformation is affecting people’s purchasing decisions, and keeping them from buying a vehicle that can not only save them money on fuel and maintenance costs, but also save all of society from the health costs of pollution.
Electrek’s Take
While this survey was conducted in the UK, we’ve seen similar surveys before over the years, showing that EV misinformation has quite a significant hold on the populace in various countries.
Unfortunately, the misinformation mentioned here is quite persistent because it is constantly being repeated by powerful entities which don’t want the status quo to change.
Even though it’s clear we need to change how transportation works because of the massive amount of pollution it causes, leading to poor health and climate change, polluting industry would rather things keep going the same way they always have. So members of the richest and most powerful industries in the world, oil and automotive, are perfectly happy to push all sorts of misinformation in order to oppose a change that is coming no matter what they do.
That’s why sites like ourselves exist – to try to demystify electric cars for people who are interested, to counter this misinformation, and to hopefully bring more people into that “high-scoring” category, so that we can all gain the individual and societal benefits that EV ownership can result in.
So if you are one of these petrol car drivers – stick around, read some articles, ask questions in the comments, head to EV-specific forums on the internet, head to EV events like National Drive Electric Week, or just reach out to some EV owning friends of yours and ask them what the experience is like.
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A Tesla hacker has revealed that through a new software update, the automaker is working on a new Model Y with a 6-seat configuration.
Last week, we reported that Tesla referenced an upcoming 7-seat configuration for the new Model Y in communications with customers.
The automaker previously offered a 7-seat configuration for the Model Y, before the design refresh earlier this year. It was never very popular.
Now, we learn that Tesla is also working on a 6-seater configuration, which would be completely new to Model Y. Tesla offers a 6-seater configuration for the Model X, but it never did for other models.
Green, an infamous Tesla hacker who often reveals upcoming features by sifting through the code in new Tesla software updates, made the discovery and commented:
“The much-rumored 6-seater Model Y made an appearance in the firmware.”
There had been several rumors about the 6-seater Model Y in the past, but they were almost exclusively in China and referenced a potential longer wheelbase Model Y that never made it to production.
Now, Green notes that his findings point to the new version likely not being only for the Chinese market.
It’s not clear what a Model Y 6-seater could look like, but it would likely feature a 2+2+2 seating configuration with captain seats in the middle, much like the Model X.
Electrek’s Take
This is interesting. If Green is discussing it, it’s in the code, and Tesla is undoubtedly working on it, but it has not been confirmed to be made available. I’ll believe it when I see it.
For my money, if Tesla wants to introduce a 2+2+2 configuration on the Model Y with captain seats in the middle, you kind of need a longer wheelbase. Otherwise, something is getting smushed.
The third row in the previous Model Y was already tiny and only suitable for children or very small adults. A 2+2+2 configuration does give the opportunity to open up that third row a bit with potential for more legroom, but I’m really curious to see how that second row looks like in a Model Y after that.
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Zero Motorcycles announced this week that production of its new XE and XB electric motorcycles is now officially underway, with the first units set to begin shipping soon. The milestone marks a major step forward in Zero’s plan to expand beyond its high-performance electric motorcycles and tap into the growing market for more affordable EVs on two wheels.
“Bikes are rolling and the wait is almost over!” the company shared on its social media channels. “Zero XEs and XBs are coming off the production line and begin shipping worldwide over the next few weeks.”
The Zero XE and XB were first unveiled in November 2024 as part of the company’s shift towards smaller, less expensive electric motorbikes that could appeal to a wider customer base than the brand’s traditional $15,000–$25,000 flagship models. With new models that directly compete against Sur Ron and Talaria-style electric motorbikes, Zero is hoping to carve out a section of the much higher volume light electric dirt bike market.
Zero has long been considered one of the dominant players in the heavyweight electric motorcycle industry, but its pricing has remained out of reach for many would-be riders. Now these upcoming smaller and cheaper bikes aim to change that.
By leveraging Asian designs and manufacturing, the new XE and XB are significantly more affordable. The Zero XB is priced at $4,395, while the larger XE comes in at $6,495. That puts them in direct competition with smaller, value-focused e-moto brands like CSC, Ryvid, and even trail bikes like the infamous Sur Ron or Talaria.
However, the non-street legal status of the bikes in the US means that sales could be hindered, unlike in Europe where the XB and XE models are homologated for use on public roads.
While the price may be lower than the brand’s bigger flagship models, both bikes still wear the Zero badge. The pair is claimed to have been designed by Zero’s California-based engineering team and use a simplified version of Zero’s Z-Force powertrain system, though the models unveiled at EICMA still had a number of obviously Chinese-origin parts and stickers, including labels written in broken English. Now, over six months later, the production models are presumably rolling off the line with a bit closer inspections.
As far as specs go, the Zero XE carries a 4.3 kWh removable battery – one of the largest removable batteries in the industry. That battery powers a 15.5 kW (21 hp) peak-rated air-cooled motor that propels the bike up to 85 km/h (53 mph).
The slightly smaller XB has a more modest 7.5 kW (10 hp) motor and 2.4 kWh battery, which is also easily removable for charging. The bike has a slower top speed of just 28 mph (45 km/h), making it better suited for riders who want to focus on their skills or learn to jump, instead of merely riding fast. Zero rates the XB with a range of 47 miles (75 km), though time will tell how accurate that figure proves to be.
Zero has made it clear that these bikes are not meant to compete with its premium lineup but rather to complement it, offering a stepping stone into electric motorcycling for newer riders or urban commuters who don’t need highway performance, at least if those urban commuters are located in Europe.
With production now underway and shipping soon, we’ll soon see whether Zero’s bet on the low-cost electric motorcycle segment pays off. One thing is certain: with more affordable options like the XB and XE, Zero is signaling that the future of motorcycling isn’t just fast – it’s flexible.
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Texas lawmakers have officially requested that Tesla delay its planned Robotaxi launch in Austin by a few months due to a new law being implemented.
It’s a Godsend for Elon Musk.
As we previously reported, Tesla’s planned Robotaxi launch in Austin, Texas, now “tentatively” scheduled for June 22, is a moving of the goal post for Tesla.
CEO Elon Musk himself has previously described what Tesla plans to launch as “not really self-driving”, but the CEO is using the new strategy as a way to claim a win in autonomous driving after years of missed deadlines and failed promises.
Since last year, Musk has discussed launching the service in Austin this summer. For the last few months, he had indicated that it would happen in June, with the June 22nd date being officially shared last week.
For Musk to claim his win, Tesla would need to stick to the deadline, which would be a first for Tesla when it comes to its autonomous driving roadmap.
However, Texas lawmakers have just given Tesla an out.
A group of seven Austin-based lawmakers in the Texas Senate and House have signed a letter asking Tesla to delay its launch until September:
As members of the Austin delegation in the Texas Senate and Texas House of Representatives, we are formally requesting that Tesla delay autonomous robotaxi operations until the new law takes effect on September I, 2025. We believe this is in the best interest of both public safety and building public trust in Tesla’s operations. If Tesla opts to proceed with the June 22, 2025, launch date, we request that you respond to this letter with detailed information demonstrating that Tesla will be compliant with the new law upon the launch of driverless operations in Austin.
Texas has had very few regulations affecting autonomous driving, and the new law maintains this status quo. However, it also introduces requirements for following federal guidelines, and the latest version of the bill references SAE autonomous driving levels.
It doesn’t sound like the lawmakers are forcing Tesla to delay the launch for now. They are more politely asking to delay until the new framework is in place.
here’s the full letter from the Texas lawmakers:
Electrek’s Take
This appears to be a Godsend for Tesla and Musk. Even with the significantly reduced scope of the program compared to what Tesla has promised for years, and the fact that Waymo has been doing exactly what Tesla is trying to accomplish for years, it appears that Tesla is having difficulties delivering on that.
As we previously reported, testing without a safety driver has been extremely limited based on sightings, and it appears that Tesla has simply relocated the “safety driver” to the passenger seat with a kill switch for optics.
Now, Tesla can claim that it has to delay the launch to please the regulators rather than because it is not ready.
There’s also NHTSA, which put a deadline for today for Tesla to answer a bunch of questions about its planned Robotaxi launch in Austin. So, that could also play a role.
Now, let’s see if Tesla takes the out or decides to move forward. For everyone’s sake, I hope they take the out.
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