There are many myths about e-mobility - what is true?
Some myths about electromobility have become entrenched in society, portraying this technology as unsuitable for everyday work, as complicated or even dangerous. The most common prejudices and their facts.
1. Electric vehicles are more expensive to purchase
Electric commercial vehicles do not have to cost more money to purchase than comparable vehicles with a conventional drive (comparable in terms of size, comfort, features, etc.). Manufacturers who do not include any subsidy amounts in the price structure for the end customer can often offer electric vehicles at the same price or even cheaper. At the same time, the electric alternative is always better than its conventional counterpart in some performance areas, for example in acceleration. To assess the economic viability of purchasing a commercial vehicle, other cost factors can be used, such as costs for fuel/energy, maintenance (e.g. regular oil changes for combustion vehicles), insurance or wear parts (e.g. brakes). In all of these points, which occur over the entire life cycle of a commercial vehicle within 10 years of initial registration, electric vehicles perform significantly better. In addition, only with an electric vehicle do you have the opportunity to obtain drive energy for free, for example via the photovoltaic system on your own farm or stable roof.
Fact: Taking into account all costs over the entire life cycle, a fully electric commercial vehicle is already cheaper than a vehicle with a conventional drive .
2. The batteries installed are broken after a few years and are not recycled
This concern is unfounded. All signs point to the opposite scenario: the batteries last much longer than expected. Especially if you avoid stress on the battery system when using it. Batteries wear out faster if they have to be constantly under full load. In addition, the charging behavior has a strong influence on the battery capacity. The rule is: never completely empty or completely full, but you should always be between 20 and 80% charged.
Fact: Electric vehicle batteries last much longer than expected and are recycled properly.
3. Charging an electric commercial vehicle takes too long
The charging time of a fully electric vehicle depends on the charging power (kW). This is determined by the devices at both ends of the charging cable: How much power comes from the charging station and how much can the vehicle handle? However, the charging curve of an electric vehicle is not linear. The charging power is reduced both when the battery is very low and when the battery is almost fully charged. The charging power is highest in the range of around 20 to 80% of the battery charge level.
In order to avoid idle times while charging, a quick charging function is often available that delivers high performance. It is important to plan charging in advance and always charge when the vehicle is not needed (e.g. at night or at midday).
Fact: Electric vehicles can be charged slowly or quickly. Whether the charging process takes too long depends on the behavior of the owner.