Driving Tomorrow: 6 Common EV Myths to Leave Behind in 2025
The future of mobility is electric – and it’s accelerating fast. At Hyundai, guided by our vision “Progress for Humanity”, we’re shaping innovations that make life better for everyone. But as EV technology evolves, some old misconceptions still linger. It’s time to move forward. Here are six myths you should leave behind in 2025 – and the facts that show why.
Myth 1: EVs don’t go far enough
A decade ago, early models made range anxiety a common concern. But today, the story has changed. The average range of new electric cars has leapt forward; in 2024, new models averaged around 450 km – enough to cover daily driving and most regional trips with just one planned stop.
Navigation now stitches in elevation, temperature, and charger availability, turning distance into a predictable plan rather than a guessing game. And honestly: when was the last time you wanted to drive for more than 450km without stopping even once?
Myth 2: Charging takes forever
Charging and EV is less about speed and more about rhythm. Most drivers start the day with a full battery thanks to home or workplace charging. So refueling fades into the background of ordinary life. On the road, high-power DC networks have changed the game: a quick coffee and a stretch can add the kilometers you need to keep a long journey flowing. And Europe’s charging infrastructure keeps getting stronger every year.
Today cars and chargers work together seamlessly: preheating the battery while driving, reserving power and guiding you to available stations. The result? Charging feels like a quick, planned pause – not a frustrating delay.
Myth 3: The charging network is too weak
It is easy to form an impression from a single empty map tile of charging stations or a busy station on a holiday weekend – but those snapshots don’t tell the full story. The big picture is more accurate: in 2024, the number of public charging points in Europe jumped by more than 35% surpassing one million. That’s a major leap in coverage and convenience.
Analysts report tens of thousands of new installations each month as the region accelerates towards 2030 targets, with gaps closing fastest where demand is highest. EU data confirms the trend: from hundreds of thousands of points in 2023 to a far denser grid today. The evidence is clear – charging infrastructure isn’t stagnating; it’s accelerating.
Myth 4: Batteries degrade quickly and need frequent replacement
Headlines often exaggerate battery wear, but real-world fleet data tells a different story. Across large samples, average capacity loss is about 1.8% per year; a steady improvement over earlier models and proof that modern thermal management, cell chemistry, and charging strategies are working as intended.
The practical effect is straightforward: range decreases slowly, year by year, not in a sudden drop. And when cars eventually retire, batteries don’t go to waste - they move into second lives as stationary storage before recycling recovers critical materials for the next generation.
Myth 5: EVs aren’t greener, battery production cancels out the benefits
The only honest way of looking at the ecological impact of EVs is to look at the entire life cycle. In Europe, comprehensive assessments conclude that battery-electric cars sold today produce roughly 73% fewer greenhouse gas emissions over their lifetime than gasoline cars – even after accounting for the carbon cost of battery and vehicle production.
And the gap keeps growing: as electricity grids decarbonize and battery supply chains adopt cleaner energy and higher recycled content, EVs become not just a better option now, but a progressively cleaner one over time.
Myth 6: EVs are more likely to catch fire
Dramatic footage travels farther and faster than facts, but the data is what matters. Studies show that fully electric vehicles do not have a higher fire risk than conventional cars; in fact several analyses suggest risk is lower on a per-vehicle basis.
While lithium-ion fires behave differently and require updated protocols for responders, advances in pack design, cell chemistry, and protective housings have steadily reduced the likelihood of thermal events. The trajectory is clear: smarter engineering and better safety standards continue to lower both risk and potential damage.
Conclusion
Our vision of “Progress for Humanity“ is our compass, not just a slogan. For our EV efforts, this means tangible impact: ranges aligned with real life needs, charging that fits daily routines, a public network that scales and shows no signs of slowing down, batteries that age gracefully, and climate math that only gets better.
The foundations are in place – chemistry, software, infrastructure, circularity – and they’re setting the stage for a mobility shift that feels cleaner, quieter, and more considerate of the world it moves through. The overall goal is ambitious, but each step in this journey is already in reach. It starts now, each time people plug in and drive forward.
Contacts
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Wolfgang Würth
Director PR & Communications
[email protected]Adriana Cerami
Head of Corporate & Brand PR
[email protected]Conor Twomey
Head of Product PR
[email protected]Elvira Vella-Herrera
Executive & Internal Communications Senior Expert
[email protected]Maria Bricio
Corporate & Brand Communications Expert
[email protected]Adrian Péré
Product PR Manager
[email protected]Katharina Kupper
Hyundai Newsroom Lead
[email protected]Patricia Lammers
Corporate Communications Expert
[email protected]Miguel Lopez
Product PR Specialist
