Five Myths About Electric Cars

 

Despite how many times they’re told differently, some Americans persist in their belief that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Sorry, nope. And almost as enduring are the myths about the forthcoming electric vehicles. So let me use my bully pulpit here to dispel some of the more common rumors, half-truths and innuendos. 1. Electric vehicles will be slow “Ralph Nader-mobiles.” Definitely wrong. I’ve driven every single one that will be out this year, and not one of them was a slug. Electric motors benefit from huge low-end torque, so they’re actually very fast indeed off the line. That makes even some of the little econo-boxes capable of blowing off complacent Camaros and Mustangs. And some EVs, such as the Tesla Roadster and Fisker Karma, are serious high-performance cars. 2. Electric vehicles will be expensive. This is a half-truth, since the purchase price will indeed be higher than you’re used to paying. Expect $35,000 to $40,000 for entry-level cars the size of a Subaru Forester. But the last time I looked, nobody was subsidizing my purchase of gas-powered cars, and there is money for EVs. Specifically, there’s a $7,500 federal tax credit for the purchase of battery cars, and a second credit of up to $2,000 that will pay up to 50 percent of your home charger installation. It’s even better if you live in certain states. California just launched a $5,000 "cash-for-clunkers" type rebate to early adopters of EVs there. Other states are similarly generous. Oklahoma subsidizes half the purchase price of battery cars, which made it possible to buy...