Electric cars are becoming more mainstream with every passing day. However, while this might be an exciting prospect, it creates problems. The primary issue with electric cars is that everyone has an opinion of how they work, but many of those opinions, especially around charging, are uninformed.

Electric cars are becoming more mainstream with every passing day. From brand new EV startups to new EV models coming out from large automotive manufacturers, the road has been paved for an electric future. However, while this might be an exciting prospect, it creates problems. The primary issue with electric cars is that everyone has an opinion of how they work, but many of those opinions, especially around charging, are uninformed

Most Common EV Charging Myths Debunked!

Charging an EV Takes Too Long

There are two ways to look at this. The first is that charging an EV takes longer than filling up a gasoline car. That’s true, but it’s also beside the point, most EV owners charge their vehicles at home overnight. Why? Well, unlike gasoline, our homes do have access to electricity, and charging up overnight is as easy with your vehicle as it is with your phone. EV Owners don't sit by the charger waiting for it to be completed; they plug it in when they get home and unplug it in the morning on their way out, just like we do with our smartphones. So yes, charging an EV takes longer than filling up a gas tank, but you can also have a station at your home and charge up as you see fi

There are Not Enough Charging Stations to Support Electric Eehicles

The critics of EVs often use this argument, and you have probably heard it yourself. It goes like this: “Electric cars can only drive a few hundred miles, and there are not enough charging stations to support them anyway.” The first part of this statement is genuine; most EVs can drive about 200–300 miles on a single charge.

However, electric vehicle drivers can easily charge at home, typically overnight, something their gas counterparts cannot. According to a recent study, most EV drivers charge their vehicles from home or workplace, with a few rare stops at a DC fast station. While there has been a lot of discussion about “range anxiety” and charging infrastructure, most people easily meet their daily driving needs from home and/or workplace charging alone.

EVs don't need to follow the old gas station model at all; sure, there are occasions where DC fast charging is needed, say on a long road trip, but for 99% of drivers, an at-home Level 1 or Level 2 station easily does the trick, which is why Orange Charger offers both

You Cannot Charge an EV When It’s Raining

This misconception stems from the idea that charging your vehicle would be dangerous or ill-advised in wet conditions. The reality is that charging is completely safe and perfectly possible in wet conditions. An EV’s charging port is equipped with rubber seals that prevent water from entering while charging, so you can plug in with confidence even if it’s pouring outside.

Your new EV can be charged in the rain or any weather condition, such as snow, at any outdoor location, including the one at your home. There are no restrictions on the charging ports on any of Orange outlets, and there is no reason you cannot charge your vehicle in the rain, sleet, or snow. Charging cables are tested to ensure their safety and water resistance and are no more dangerous than filing up a gas or diesel vehicle.

Charging Electric Vehicle Adds to Toxic Carbon Emissions

There is a common misconception that electric vehicles are not environmentally friendly because the energy to charge them comes from power plants that burn fossil fuels, specifically coal. While it is true that some EV charging today is powered by fossil fuels, like coal and natural gas, it is certainly not the case that charging EVs adds to toxic carbon emissions. The truth is that they reduce harmful toxins in the atmosphere and do so especially well when charged with renewable energy sources.

The fallacy of this argument can be easily explained. Power plants burn coal or natural gas to generate electricity. Burning these fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. However, gas vehicles also release additional CO2 into the atmosphere when burning gasoline or diesel fuel. At this point there are scores of studies that illustrate this fact, but here’s one of the more recent studies.

Since an EV has no emissions, it releases far less CO2 into the environment. Most studies agree that an EV produces half the CO2 of a similar traditional car for every mile driven. In fact, as the larger grid becomes less dependent on fossil fuels, EVs are only getting greener over time.

‍At Home, Charging is Better When It's as Fast as Possible

Many believe that EVs will only truly take off once high-speed charging is available at home. While you could go this route, there isn’t much evidence that supports this narrative. Most of what we see is that once a car is parked, it sits for hours; cars today spend 95% of their lives parked. Coupled with the fact that the average American only drives around 40 miles per day and high-speed charging at home doesn’t make any sense.

We already have the electrical service we need at home. Even Level 1 chargers can fully support the daily driving needs of just about every driver. Level 2 is simply icing on the cake for those who feel they need around 1-3 hours of charge time before they go back
out. Simply put, we already have the charging power we need built into every home in the US.

Conclusion

We’re fortunate to live in an age where EV charging is a realistic and practical option for vehicle owners worldwide. These new options will help expedite EV adoption, and it will be interesting to see how the market continues to grow over time.