Busting Myths Around Electric Vehicles
As air pollution worsens, the need for electric vehicles heightens. For many people, electric cars are a thing of the future. But what most people do not understand is that the "Future is Now"; that electric cars are being launched at an accelerating rate and one of the key reasons is the rising concerns around CO2 emissions. While this ushers in a new form of mobility, several misconceptions come along with it. We have laid down a few common myths with the straight truth about electric cars.
1) Myth: There's no such thing as a fast charging electric car
Truth: With newer batteries and technological breakthroughs, the time taken to charge an electric car has decreased sharply. Charging an electric vehicle all comes down to how powerful your charging point is and of course, the capacity of your battery. The Tata Nexon EV, for example, charges from SOC (state of charge) 0% within eight and a half hours from any 15 Ampere plug point – that's pretty much around the same time you spend sleeping or a usual office shift of 8 AM to 5 PM. In fact, the Tata Nexon EV happens to be a fast charging electric car that charges up to 80% in an hour's time.
2) Myth: Electric vehicles run out of charge quickly
Truth: A common misconception is that your electric car will run out of charge and that you will be stranded by the side of the road. Now this is not the case as advances in technology, as seen in the Tata Nexon EV, allows your car to run for 300+ kilometers on a full charge which happens to be enough for your daily commute. Even in the case of a low charge, your car will send out a warning. The Tata Motors Zconnect app provides you with a list of fast charging stations nearest to you and goes on to direct you to the charging point.
3) Myth: Lithium batteries and electric vehicles in general are dangerous
Truth: While e-mobility is great for the environment, several questions about its safety are doing the rounds. There are general talks about batteries catching fire on impact but in actuality lithium-ion batteries are as safe as gasoline or diesel-powered engines. Moreover, the Nexon EV is powered by stable lithium-ion battery chemistry designed to operate under a significantly wide ambient temperature range. What makes this battery even better is that it is an IP67 certified all-weather, shockproof, waterproof and dustproof battery.
4) Myth: Electric vehicles are slow
Truth: There is no way that electric vehicles are slow, at least not in today's day and age. In fact, most models are even faster than their petrol or diesel counterparts. One of the reasons why electric vehicles are fast is because they are powered by an electric motor that generates maximum torque at the push of a pedal. So as soon as you push down on the accelerator of a Tata Nexon EV, a rush of electricity surges through your car taking it from stationary to 100 kmph in just 9.9 seconds (based on internal test data). Now that's the power of Tata Ziptron technology!
5) Myth: A proper charging infrastructure is necessary for widespread electric vehicle adoption
Truth: When it comes to charging, most owners prefer to charge their vehicles at home through the night or at their workplace when their vehicle is idle But when you're out on a road trip, you will need to charge it in public at some point. Public EV charging infrastructure is coming up fast in our country with a number of startups as well as existing power distribution companies investing in developing it. On similar lines and under the "ONE TATA" approach for sustainable electric mobility, Tata Power has announced to set up over 700 charging stations across India. Tata Power has over 100 operational charging stations currently. To locate your nearest EV charging station you can refer to Google Maps and search for "EV charging stations near me", or simply download the Tata Motors ZConnect app that gives you a list of fast charging stations across the country. Additionally, it even directs you to the nearest charging station, so leave the navigation to us!
The automobile industry is now witnessing an influx of electric cars. At summits across the globe, Governments are pledging to move completely to electric mobility. As the future of electric vehicles shines bright, it's time we adapt to this shift.
