6 EV Myths Everyone Should Stop Believing  

Many misconceptions about electric vehicles (EVs) still circulate in India. Below, we debunk six common EV myths with facts and data, focusing on the Indian context. 

Myth 1: Electric Vehicles Can’t Travel Far Enough (Range Anxiety) 

Fact: Most Indian drivers travel far shorter distances than entry-level EV ranges.  

• A multi-city survey found 75% of commuters travel under 1,000 km per month, roughly 35 km per day. Personal cars often see only 500–700 km monthly (20–25 km/day).  

• By contrast, modern EVs easily deliver 200–400 km per charge. For example, Tata Nexon EV (30–45 kWh battery) is rated 275–489 km per full charge.  

• In practice, typical EV owners cover only a fraction of their battery range daily. In short, range anxiety is largely unwarranted. 

Myth 2: EVs Are Too Expensive

Fact: While EVs often cost more upfront than petrol cars, government incentives and lower running costs change the picture.  

• India’s FAME-II program (approx. ₹11,500 Cr budget) has already supported over 1.6 million EVs (including 14.3 lakh two-wheelers, 1.65 lakh three-wheelers, and 22.5 thousand cars by Mar 2025).

• More importantly, studies show the total cost of ownership of EVs is now on par with ICE cars. A McKinsey report notes that falling battery and manufacturing costs have brought EV prices down, and “the total cost of ownership for EVs…achieved parity with ICE vehicles”.  

• NITI Aayog highlights that many buyers often overlook fuel  and maintenance savings, focusing only on sticker price. 

Myth 3: EV Batteries Wear Out Quickly or Pollute the Environment

Fact: EV batteries are durable and increasingly recyclable.  

• Most modern EV batteries come with 8–10 year or 100,000 km warranties, and long-term data shows no evidence of premature failure. When batteries age, they often find a second life in stationary energy storage before recycling. 

• India’s Battery Waste Management Rules (2022) forbid disposal in landfills or incinerators. Instead, manufacturers must take back and recycle them responsibly.  
• India already has recycling capacity. For example, Lohum Cleantech (Odisha) refurbishes and recovers lithium, cobalt, nickel, and other materials from used EV packs, feeding them back into new batteries.  
• EV batteries are not toxic waste; strict regulations and emerging recycling industries ensure sustainable management. 

Myth 4: There Are No EV Charging Stations in India

Fact: India’s public charging network is expanding rapidly.  

• As of late 2025, there are over 29,000 public EV charging stations nationwide, up from approx. 6,600 in 2023. This includes 4,557 highway fast chargers reported by MoRTH.  

• Charging points are concentrated in urban and interstate corridors, but schemes like PM-E-DRIVE have spurred massive growth in charging stations. India now averages one public charger per approx. 200 EVs (vs. the ideal ~1:20 ratio), and this is improving every year.  

• Home and workplace charging further multiply access: surveys show 55–65% of EV owners can charge at home, and many workplaces provide charging. 

• Private CPOs are scaling installations too. For example, Bolt.Earth has over 1,00,000 installed and active chargers across India, significantly boosting charging access beyond publicly listed infrastructure.

Myth 5: Charging an EV Takes Too Long (It’s Impractical!)

Fact: Most EV drivers plug in overnight, and fast-charging technology has advanced greatly.  

• Using a regular home socket (2–3 kW), a full charge may take 8–12 hours, but this happens while sleeping. Public DC fast chargers (30–150+ kW) can replenish an EV battery quickly.  

• For example, a high-power charger can add roughly 200 km of range in 20–30 minutes. Drivers often “top up” during short breaks, similar to a coffee stop.  

• Surveys show most EV owners rely on overnight home charging for daily use, with fast charging reserved for long trips. Charging time is no longer a serious obstacle. 

Myth 6: The Electricity Grid Can’t Handle EV Adoption

Fact: Even on India’s coal-heavy grid, EVs produce far less CO₂ per km than petrol cars.  

• A recent IIT–ICCT (Indian Institute of Technology – International Council on Clean Transportation) study finds that Indian EVs emit up to 38% less CO₂ (life-cycle) than equivalent petrol cars. Burning a litre of petrol emits approx. 2.3 kg of CO₂, whereas an EV drawing from India’s grid (approx. 0.79 kg CO₂ per kWh) results in much lower per-km emissions.  

• Moreover, India is rapidly decarbonizing power, with renewables now exceeding 50% of capacity. As the grid gets cleaner, EVs become even greener. Experts warn that delaying EV adoption only locks in more emissions from petrol cars. 

• Even today, EVs cut transport emissions significantly in India. 

Final Thoughts 

 The shift to electric mobility in India is well underway, and the facts clearly outweigh the myths. Modern EVs already deliver more range than most people need daily, the total cost of ownership rivals petrol vehicles, batteries are responsibly recycled, and charging infrastructure is expanding at an unprecedented pace. Fast charging and home charging make daily use seamless, and even with today’s grid mix, EVs significantly reduce emissions and environmental impact.

With falling prices, stronger policies, rapid infrastructure growth, and rising consumer awareness, India is moving decisively toward cleaner, smarter transportation. 
 
If we look past outdated myths and focus on data, the road ahead is greener and electric.