True and false about electric cars

The popularity of electric cars is growing! And just like with anything new, many questions are raised – and myths. So we're going to dig deeper into: What's really true and false about electric cars?

Claim: Electric cars weigh more

Answer: False

It is true that today's cars are getting heavier, but it is not just because of the powertrain they have. All types of cars have become larger and more well-equipped, which in itself increases weight. Electric cars do have heavy batteries, but they lack a combustion engine and gearbox, which compensates for the overall weight. In addition, most electric cars sold today are larger models. At the same time, it is actually plug-in hybrids – that is, cars that have both a petrol engine and a rechargeable battery – that weigh the most on average. So no, electric cars are not the heaviest. They are heavy, but not the heaviest.

Claim: Electric car tires wear out faster

Answer: True

On the one hand, electric cars are on average heavier than fossil models, which wears out tires more, on the other hand, they often have larger wheels, which means more expensive tires, and on the other hand, electric cars have high torque, which means high tire wear when you press hard on the gas. Therefore, it is customary to expect a slightly higher tire cost for electric cars. Of course, there are exceptions, and the most important factor is always driving behavior. Hard acceleration and braking and inspired cornering will wear out the tires more regardless of what engine the car has.

Claim: It is more expensive to insure an electric car than a “regular” car

Answer: True

It is partly true that electric cars generally have higher insurance premiums, but the explanation is more complex than just the electric motor. Electric cars tend to be technologically advanced and built in modules, which often makes repairs more expensive – for example, due to integrated electronics and safety systems in windows and body parts. It is primarily the vehicle damage insurance that drives up costs.

Many electric cars also have high power, which also contributes to higher premiums. Cars with more powerful engines are often classified as higher risk by insurance companies, regardless of fuel.

Pricing is based on damage statistics for each individual car model. This means that some electric cars may be more expensive to insure, while others are not. As electric cars become more common, the amount of statistics also increases, leading to fairer and more stable premiums over time.

Higher insurance premiums for electric cars are therefore mainly due to higher repair costs, higher power and uncertainty in claims history, rather than the electric drive itself. With better data and market adaptation, the differences may decrease in the future. It is always a good idea to compare insurance companies, as premiums can differ greatly between different players.

Read more: Why electric car insurance costs more – and how you can influence the price

Claim: You can't tow a trailer with an electric car

Answer: False

Most electric cars can be equipped with a towbar, so it's no problem to bring your boat or caravan on your electric car holiday!

Trailers increase air resistance and weight, so just like for gasoline or diesel-powered cars, towing affects fuel consumption, leading to shorter range.

Always remember to check which driving license is required for your particular combination of car and trailer.

Claim: Electric cars have higher consumption when it's cold

Answer: True

When the temperature drops, the range of an electric car is affected in two ways: the battery works less efficiently and more energy is required to heat the cabin. The range of an electric car can be reduced by around 30 percent in cold weather, depending on the car model, outside temperature, road conditions and driving style.

Unlike combustion engines, which generate waste heat, electric cars must actively use the battery's energy to provide heat. An electric car equipped with a heat pump is therefore a smart choice. A heat pump works much like a reverse air conditioner and can heat the passenger compartment with significantly less energy consumption. This means that more of the battery's capacity goes into powering the car - and you get a longer range even on cold days.

A smart way to reduce the effect of the cold is to preheat the cabin and battery before setting off. Doing so while the car is still connected to the charger saves battery energy and gives you the comfort of a warm cabin right from the start. Many electric cars offer scheduled preheating via an app or the car's menu system, making it easy to have the car ready when it's time to go.

Modern electric cars have advanced trip computers that take into account temperature, driving style, road conditions and even elevation changes along the route. This gives you a realistic estimate of the range. This makes it easy to plan your trip even in winter.

Claim: Long-distance travel takes longer with an electric car

Answer: It depends

No, not normally. The big difference is how you fill up with fuel. When you fill up a fossil fuel car, it is of course normal to fill up to full. But when traveling, it is unusual to fully charge your electric car. Even though a modern electric car can be charged quickly, a 5-10 minute charging stop is often enough to fill up enough range to get to your destination. Then you fully charge the car the next night, and you are ready for new adventures.

Claim: Electric cars are more expensive to own

Answer: False

Electric cars are generally more expensive than equivalent petrol or diesel-powered models. However, for those who can charge at home, the ongoing operating costs are significantly lower, while the vehicle tax is advantageously low – only 360 SEK per year.

To get a fair picture of the cost situation, one should therefore not only focus on the purchase price, but instead start from the total cost of ownership – what is often referred to as Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). This calculation includes depreciation, consumption (liters or kilowatt hours per mile), fuel price, vehicle tax, insurance and financing costs, normally based on an annual mileage of 1,500 kilometers.

Depreciation is the largest single item, but electric cars often have a clear advantage in terms of lower cost per mile, especially when charging at home. This means that in many cases the TCO is actually lower for electric cars than for traditional combustion engine cars – even though the electric car is initially more expensive to buy.

Read more: How the cost of ownership is distributed – we compare electricity with fossil fuels

Claim: Electric cars are worse for the environment

Answer: False

It's true that electric cars have a high climate impact during production, primarily due to battery production, which requires a lot of energy and raw materials. But once the car is on the road, the calculation quickly changes.

A study from ICCT shows that the higher greenhouse gas emissions during production are often offset after just over a year of driving. After that, the electric car is the more climate-smart alternative, with significantly lower emissions over the entire life cycle compared to a petrol or diesel car.

The same report also states that climate change is affected by how electricity is produced. In Europe, it is estimated that an electric car contributes 66–69 percent less over its lifetime than a fossil-fueled car.

Claim: Electric cars lose a lot of value

Answer: False

Buying a car is not just about the price tag. What really determines how much the car costs you as the owner is the total cost of ownership – that is, the sum of fuel, insurance, tax, service, maintenance and – not least – depreciation. The latter is often the heaviest item in the calculation.

All cars lose value from the moment they roll out of the showroom. The biggest drops in value occur in the first few years, and the price as a used car depends mainly on what the car cost when new. After three years, a car has lost an average of 40–50 percent in value. Over time, the car's condition, service history and ownership history play an increasingly important role in what it is worth on the second-hand market.

Electric cars have long had a reputation for losing more value than fossil-fueled cars. That was partly true – largely because electric cars were initially aimed primarily at the premium segment. And a high new price by definition means a greater loss in value in kronor.

Today, we see a clear trend towards more price-conscious electric car models – simpler equipped, smaller and more accessible to a wider audience. At the same time, production costs have fallen as more and more manufacturers build electric cars on a large scale with a high degree of automation. Technological development is also moving quickly: batteries are becoming both cheaper and better, which makes a big difference since the battery is the most expensive single component in an electric car.

And then there’s the technical advantage: electric cars have fewer moving parts – on average just a couple dozen in the drivetrain, compared to several thousand in a petrol or diesel car. This reduces the risk of wear and tear and repairs, and therefore also service costs.

The depreciation of an electric car is currently no higher than that of a fossil-fuel car. The resale value varies between different models, but increasingly follows the same logic: how much the car costs new, how popular it is, and how well it has been maintained.