Busting the Myths About Electric Vehicles
EVmyths.ca helps Canadians cut through the noise and make smart EV choices. Learn the facts about range, cost, batteries and more.
Myth vs Fact: Environment
The Myth
“Electric vehicles are worse for the environment than gas cars because of battery production.”
The Fact
EVs have higher manufacturing emissions—but quickly become cleaner and remain far cleaner over their lifetime. Battery production does create more emissions upfront. But gas cars keep emitting CO₂ every time you drive. EVs run on electricity, which is getting cleaner every year. In Canada (especially Quebec), EVs can be dramatically cleaner due to hydro power.
The Reality
- Most EVs “break even” on emissions within 1–2 years of driving
- Over their lifetime, EVs produce 50–70% less emissions than gas cars
- In places like Quebec, it can be up to ~80–90% less
Myth vs Fact: Range
The Myth
“EVs don’t have enough range and you’ll get stranded.”
The Fact
Modern EVs have plenty of range for daily life—and running out is actually less common than running out of gas.
The Reality
- Most new EVs get 400–500 km (250–310 miles) per charge
- The average person drives 40–60 km per day
- You wake up every day with a “full tank” if you charge at home
- Public fast chargers can add 100–300 km in ~15–30 minutes
Myth vs Fact: Charging Time
The Myth
“EVs take too long to charge.”
The Fact
Most charging happens while you’re not using the car—and fast charging is quicker than people think.
The Reality
- ~90% of charging happens at home (overnight, like your phone)
- You wake up every day with a “full tank”
- Fast chargers can add 100–200 km in ~15 minutes
- About 80% charge in ~20–40 minutes (depending on vehicle)
- Most people rarely need public charging unless road-tripping
“You don’t wait for an EV to charge—you charge while you sleep.”
Myth vs Fact: Batteries & Lifespan
The Myth
“EV batteries wear out quickly and cost a fortune to replace.”
The Fact
EV batteries are built to last the life of the vehicle—and failures are rare.
The Reality
- Most EV batteries are designed to last 300,000–500,000+ km
- Real-world data shows very slow degradation (~1–2% per year)
- Most automakers offer 8-year / 160,000 km warranties (or better)
- Full battery replacements are rare, not routine maintenance
- Many EVs will outlast the rest of the car before the battery “dies”
“EV batteries don’t suddenly fail—they slowly age, like your phone, but much slower.”
Myth vs Fact: Cost in Canada
The Myth
“EVs are way more expensive than gas cars.”
The Fact
EVs can cost similar—or even less—than gas cars in Canada, especially after rebates.
The Reality (Canada, right now)
- Affordable EVs in Canada (2025–2026)
- Nissan Leaf → ~$41K–$44K CAD
- Chevrolet Equinox EV → ~$44,999 CAD
- Chevrolet Bolt EV → ~$41K CAD (when available)
- All of these qualify for the $5,000 federal EV rebate
- Federal Incentive (big deal)
- Canada currently offers $5,000 off new EVs
- Applies to many models under ~$50K
- Can be stacked with provincial incentives (like in Quebec)
- Average Gas Car Price
- The average new vehicle in Canada is roughly $50K–$65K+ CAD (depending on source and segment)
- Meaning:
- Many EVs are already cheaper or similar upfront
- Then get even cheaper with rebates
“Some EVs cost less than the average gas car—and that’s before fuel savings.”
Myth vs Fact: Fire Risk
The Myth
“EVs catch fire more than gas cars.”
The Fact
EV are far less likely to catch fire than gas cars.
The Reality (numbers speak)
- Gas cars: ~1,530 fires per 100,000 vehicles
- EVs: ~25–30 fires per 100,000 vehicles
- Gasoline is highly flammable, and car fires often come from accidents, engine faults, or fuel leaks.
- EVs have battery management systems, fuse protection, and automatic shutdowns to help prevent fires.
- When EV fires do happen, they’re rare and mostly in severe collisions.
You’re over 50× more likely to have a fire in a gas car than an EV.
EV fires are harder to extinguish, which makes them seem scarier in videos—but the probability of a fire is much lower. Most EVs have advanced safety monitoring that can alert the driver before anything gets dangerous.
Myth vs Fact: Battery Impact & Environment
The Myth
“The batteries are terrible for the environment.”
The Fact
EVs have higher emissions at manufacturing—but over their lifetime, they are far cleaner than gas cars. Plus, batteries can be recycled, unlike gas.
The Reality (full lifecycle)
1) Battery Production vs Gas Production
- Making a lithium-ion battery does produce more CO₂ upfront.
- Gas cars also have a huge environmental footprint: extracting oil, refining it, transporting it, and storing it.
- Every litre of gas burned produces CO₂ and pollutants, for decades of driving.
2) Lifetime Emissions
- On average, an EV breaks even in 1–2 years of driving.
- Over 10+ years, EVs produce 50–70% less CO₂ than gas cars.
- In Quebec or hydro-heavy grids, EVs can be 80–90% cleaner.
3) Battery Recycling
- EV batteries can be recycled and reused.
- Lithium, cobalt, nickel, and other metals are recovered for new batteries.
- LFP batteries don’t use cobalt at all.
- Gasoline is never recycled—once it’s burned, it’s gone and pollutes the atmosphere.
People often focus on cobalt in EV batteries without realizing it’s also used in refining gasoline.
“EV batteries have an impact—but gas cars never stop polluting.”
“A recycled EV battery can help power the next EV. A litre of burned gas? Gone forever.”
Myth vs Fact: Winter & Cold Weather
The Myth
“EVs lose most of their range in cold weather and aren’t reliable in winter.”
The Fact
Modern EVs handle cold weather extremely well with pre-conditioning, heat pumps, and smart battery management.
The Reality (cold-weather survival)
1) "Pre-conditioning"
- You can heat your EV while it’s still plugged in, so the cabin and battery start warm.
- This saves battery energy for driving, not warming up.
2) "Heat pumps"
- Many EVs use efficient heat pumps, which use less energy than traditional resistive heaters.
- They keep the cabin warm without draining the battery too fast.
3) "Battery Management"
- Modern EVs have thermal management systems that keep batteries warm and efficient during charging.
- They keep batteries warm while driving.
- They optimize energy use on road trips.
4) "Real-world impact"
- Cold weather can reduce range, but typically by around 10–20%, not catastrophically.
- Pre-conditioning plus a bit of planning can almost eliminate surprises.
- On the road, charging stations work normally—the car still charges at the same rate, even in winter.
“EVs aren’t afraid of winter—you just plug in, pre-heat, and drive.”
“Batteries stay warm, cabin stays cozy, range stays reasonable.”