by For several years, everyone has been talking about how electric vehicles will soon remove gasoline ‘siblings’ from public roads. The question is only when, not if. At the same time, electric vehicles are constantly criticized. Internet critics question the current price-to-quality ratio, many safety experts point out production flaws, and some doubt the environmental friendliness of electric cars. This article examines 5 such doubts and tries to determine the level of their truthfulness. Should we take them seriously, or are they just myths? Let’s find out. Hydrogen will become the most common source of energy for vehicles, it will even surpass batteries. Many bosses in the automotive industry believe that hydrogen is the best option because it does not produce emissions. And some argue that it will surpass battery technology for electric vehicles. This is undoubtedly a clean gas as during the reaction with oxygen only water is produced. This is the most common compound on Earth. According to analysts, this is also the fastest way to refuel as it only takes 4 minutes. Despite such an optimistic outlook, hydrogen poses many difficulties, through which it is unlikely to replace batteries in cars. Current extraction methods, like electrolysis, require a lot of energy, and the lower energy density of hydrogen creates many logistical obstacles. The hydrogen refueling infrastructure is also underdeveloped as there are fewer stations than charging stations for electric vehicles. And the high flammability of hydrogen in combination with storage and transport problems adds even more obstacles. Hydrogen can certainly find niche applications (for example, in trucks), but due to its drawbacks, it can be said that electric vehicles will still dominate. Electric vehicles will pollute the atmosphere. The technological shift in the 21st century has not always been environmentally friendly. The growing dependence on digital entertainment and online activities, such as online games and streaming broadcasts, contributes to increased carbon dioxide emissions due to energy consumption for data processing and electronic devices manufacturing. Playing in a casino on a site like Svit Kazino may not be much more environmentally friendly than, for example, a trip to a local casino. Electric vehicles are also criticized as transitioning to such vehicles can undermine progress in reducing harmful particles in the air. In particular, skeptics believe that greater wear on electric car brakes and tires can increase the amount of solid particles emitted. Some skeptics claim that the production of batteries for electric vehicles and the demand for electricity indirectly contribute to environmental pollution. However, such claims do not take into account important factors. Research shows that electric vehicles generally produce fewer solid particles than traditional vehicles. They use regenerative braking systems that reduce brake wear, and significant progress in tire and vehicle design also contributes to emission reductions. And let’s not forget the positive impact of electric vehicles on the environment by reducing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. Electric vehicles will increase the chances of getting stuck in the middle of a field. Critics often call ‘range anxiety’ a key reason why people hesitate to switch to electric vehicles. This is a common fear that the battery will unexpectedly discharge, or that there will be no charging station nearby. But this is not entirely true. Data on the range of electric vehicles and the growth of charging station networks suggest that there is no need to worry about long electric vehicle trips. Of course, there are still many difficulties, such as peak demand for electricity and equal accessibility for all, but most drivers do not need to worry about the distance of travel. Moreover, infrastructure improvements and advancements in charging station technology do not stop for a moment, so the likelihood of getting stuck in such a case approaches zero. Electric vehicles depend on unethical and environmentally harmful extraction of natural resources. Critics often point out the process of extracting natural resources for electric vehicles and its consequences for the environment and human rights, especially regarding processes in countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The extraction of materials for batteries, the geography of which is expected to significantly expand, understandably faces criticism, but people often overlook other important factors. The impact of fossil fuels on the environment is much greater than the extraction of minerals, even taking into account the projected increase in volumes. The reuse of minerals for batteries will also mitigate some of the environmental damage since about 80-90% of metals used in batteries can be reused. The priority task is to reduce human rights violations during the extraction of mineral resources, but if something can be accelerated in this area, the fastest way to environmentally neutral development is undoubtedly the mineral supply chain. Electric vehicles are a source of greater fire hazard. Critics often assume that electric vehicles are a source of greater fire hazard than gasoline or diesel counterparts. All of them argue that the frequency and severity of such fires will be higher. At the same time, new data show that electric vehicles are less prone to ignition compared to counterparts with internal combustion engines. Concerns about battery fires in electric vehicles are justified due to potential thermal instability, but studies show that this risk is relatively low. Data from countries with high levels of electric vehicle use, such as Norway and Sweden, indicate significantly fewer fires in electric vehicles compared to traditional vehicles. This is also confirmed by studies commissioned by the Australian Department of Defense. Battery fires in electric vehicles require specific firefighting methods, but due to the low probability of ignition and the development of prevention methods, they will pose a lower risk in the coming years.
