Somebody at the barbecue said it. Somebody in the comments said it louder. Here are 34 of the most common things people say about electric vehicles, each with a sourced verdict you can send back.
Charging
“Non-Tesla EVs can access Tesla superchargers” (True): It is no secret that Tesla has the largest network of charging stations across the country, and as a big name luxury brand, it would be easy to assume they don't play well with others.
“Charging an EV takes too long” (False): Here's what most people miss about EV charging: the vast majority of it happens at home, overnight, while you sleep.
“There aren't enough EV charging stations” (False): One of the most common complaints regarding the electrification of the automotive industry is the lack of infrastructure throughout the U.S.
“EVs can't charge on regular outlets” (False): Although it might not be as practical, this is inherently false as you can technically charge your electric vehicle on any outlet, even your regular AC outlets at home.
Safety
“EVs are less safe in water” (False): EVs are actually better equipped to handle water than gas-powered vehicles.
“Tesla EVs have lots of recalls” (False): It's no secret that Tesla vehicles have received a number of recalls throughout the years, to the point that it seems like they receive more than any other company.
“EVs crash more often than conventional cars” (False): There are tons of different reasons a vehicle might crash, many of which have very little to do with what kind of vehicle is actually being driven.
Cost
“EVs are too expensive” (False): While it's true that purchasing any new vehicle is going to be a costly endeavor, long-range electric vehicles actually cost less than the average internal-combustion engine vehicle.
“EVs are expensive to maintain” (False): You've likely heard detractors speak about how expensive it must be to maintain an electric vehicle, but they're only thinking about one part of the vehicle rather than the vehicle as a whole, so let's take a closer look at things.
“EVs cause more lifetime emissions than conventional cars” (False): When electric vehicles first gained traction in the U.S., only a small portion of the country had the right infrastructure for those cars to actually be viable options.
“EVs are just run on coal” (False): This is one of the fossil fuel industry's favorite talking points, and it falls apart under any scrutiny.
“EVs are not American” (False): This is a common complaint about many car companies, but the narrative has recently been applied to electric vehicles in general.
“EVs are being forced on me” (False): There has never been a US law requiring any individual to buy an EV -- every so-called "mandate" regulated what automakers could sell, never what you could buy, own, or drive.
“The nation's electrical grid can't handle EVs” (False): Without a doubt one of the biggest fears spread amongst the general American population in regards to the electrification of the automotive industry is that the nation's electrical grid won't be able to handle it.
Climate
“EVs don't help with climate change” (False): One of the biggest selling points for the electrification of the industry is that it's better for the environment, ultimately helping with climate change in the long run.
“EV batteries end up in landfills” (False): Despite the fact that many people seem to believe EV batteries wind up at landfills, which would admittedly be a very bad thing for the environment, Tesla has confirmed that 0% of its batteries end up in landfills.
EV fires
“EVs start on fire often” (False): Electric vehicles start on fire far less than traditional gasoline-powered vehicles.
“EV fires are almost impossible to put out” (False): While we've already established that the number of EV fires is significantly lower than fires in other types of vehicles, they can still happen.
Range
“EV range is worse in cold weather” (True): Yes, EV range does drop in cold weather -- but so does gas mileage, and nobody uses that as a reason not to buy a gas car.
“Taxpayers pay for EV credits” (True): Yes, taxpayers fund EV tax credits -- just like they fund subsidies for oil and gas, which receive an estimated $20 billion or more per year in federal subsidies and have for over a century.
“EVs are eligible for tax credits” (Misleading): This used to be one of the biggest reasons to buy an EV -- but the rules changed, so the answer is now "it depends." The federal Clean Vehicle Credit of up to $7,500 for a new EV (and $4,000 for a used one) was repealed and ended for any vehicle purchased after September 30, 2025.
Battery life
“EV batteries don't last long” (False): This is one of the most persistent idiotic statements about EVs, and it's flat-out wrong.
“Tesla is going bankrupt” (False): No matter which type of idiot you are, there's a solid chance you've heard this phrase a handful of times throughout the past several years.