Myth
EV batteries lose only about 2% of their range a year, and among 2022-and-newer EVs just 0.3% have needed a new one.
Real-world data from 22,700 vehicles shows batteries lose about 2.3% of capacity a year on average, so a 300-mile car still has roughly 250 miles after eight years, and packs are expected to outlast the car (Geotab, 2026). Replacements are rare: 0.3% for EVs from 2022 on, outside recalls (Recurrent), and US DOE data puts replacements due to failure at 1.5% overall. Automakers typically warranty the battery for 8 years or 100,000 miles. Out of warranty, a replacement does cost $5,000 to $16,000, which is why a battery health report is worth getting on a used EV.
Sources (4)
Myth
The best data we have says EVs catch fire far less often than gas cars, though a battery fire is harder to put out.
In Sweden, which tracks vehicle fires by fuel, combustion cars were about 20 times more likely to catch fire than EVs (Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency data via Swinburne University), and EV and plug-in hybrid fires stayed flat in 2024 while the fleet grew 14%. The US has no reliable national count by fuel type, so be wary of viral US statistics. The honest caveat: when a battery does burn, it burns hot and takes firefighters longer to put out.
Sources (2)
Mostly myth
Most charging happens at home overnight, the average car drives under 40 miles a day, and the US has 261,000+ public charging ports for trips.
About 80% of charging happens at home (US DOE), so most days you leave with a full battery. The average household vehicle drove 14,200 miles in 2022, about 39 miles a day, well within any EV's range. For road trips, the Department of Energy lists 260,825 public charging ports, including 78,912 fast-charging ports. The part that's true: if you can't charge where you live, an EV takes more planning and public charging costs more.
Sources (3)
Myth
Counting the power plant and the battery factory, a new US electric car produces about two-thirds less climate pollution than a gas car.
Life-cycle studies count everything: mining, building the battery, generating the electricity. On today's average US grid, a 2024 electric sedan produces 66% to 70% less greenhouse gas over its life than a gasoline sedan, and electric SUVs 71% to 74% less (ICCT, 2024). The Union of Concerned Scientists finds EVs come out ahead in every US grid region, and the gap widens as the grid gets cleaner. On a coal-heavy grid the advantage is smaller, but still there.
Sources (2)
Mostly myth
All the electric cars in the US used under 1% of the country's electricity in the first half of 2026, mostly overnight when the grid has room.
US light-duty EVs used nearly 14 billion kWh in the first half of 2026 (EIA), which works out to under 1% of US electricity use by our arithmetic. Worldwide, the IEA puts EVs at about 0.7% of electricity demand in 2024, rising to about 2.5% by 2030. Growth will need investment, but it is gradual, and charging mostly happens overnight when demand is low. Many utilities pay or discount drivers who charge off-peak.
Sources (2)
Partly true
At freezing, EVs keep about 78% of their range on average; at 20°F about 70%. Plan for it, but it rarely matters on a daily commute.
Cold does cut range. Across 30,000+ cars, EVs kept 78% of their range at 32°F and 70% at 20°F (Recurrent). AAA's 2026 lab test at 20°F with the heater on found a 39% drop, and hybrids lost 22.8% of their fuel economy too; even then, the EV cost $36.19 less per 1,000 miles charged at home. Warming the car while it is still plugged in, seat heaters and a heat-pump model all help. Norway, hardly a warm country, registered 95.9% fully electric new cars in 2025.
Sources (3)
Partly true
Routine maintenance is cheaper with no oil changes, but newer EVs have had more software and charging glitches. Pick a model with a good record.
EVs have far fewer moving parts: Argonne National Laboratory puts scheduled maintenance at 6.1 cents a mile for an EV versus 10.1 cents for a gas car. But Consumer Reports' 2025 survey found EVs had more problems on average than gas cars, often with software, electronics and charging hardware, and it varies a lot by brand. Check model-specific ratings before you buy.
Sources (2)