On the fourth day of Christmas…
carsales gave to me...four car myths bustedThere’s more than a few car-related conspiracies and theories out there and we’ve decided to bust some of the most persistent myths.
Myth 1: EVs can’t tow
Busted: Electric vehicles are more than capable when it comes to towing.
Their instant torque gives them plenty of low-end urge and while diesel is still the go-to towing powertrain, the times are a changing!
If the EV is homologated for towing, it's legally able to haul – just check the manufacturer’s rating.
SUVs like the Kia EV9 and BMW iX can tow up to 2500?kg – enough for caravans or boat trailers. Tesla Model X can also tow 2250kg but you don’t see too many of these in Australia nowadays.
Myth 2: Electric cars aren’t safe and sometimes explode
Busted: EV batteries are energy-dense and, like any fuel source, can burn. But EV fires remain uncommon.
EV FireSafe, an Australian research group backed by Defence, has logged 772 battery fires worldwide out of roughly 40 million plug-in EVs since 2010.
In Australia, it has recorded 12 EV battery fires up until October 22, 2025.
- Two caused by arson
- Three where garage fires spread to the vehicle
- Five from high-speed crashes, including one hit by road debris
- Two still under investigation
Electric vehicles undergo the same rigorous crash tests as petrol cars and are required to meet strict global safety standards.
Thermal management systems and multiple fail-safes drastically reduce the risk of fire – battery-related incidents are rare and less frequent than fuel-related car fires.
Myth 3: You don’t need to warm up modern engines
Busted: The idea that you need to idle a minute before driving is true.
Modern engines that are pumped full of liquids – oil, petrol, coolant etc – aren’t quite ready to go instantly. Some of these, especially the lubricating oil, take time to heat up. Just like olive oil does on a steel fry pan.
The best practice? Start the engine and wait a minute or two to ensure it reaches optimal operating temperature.
Myth 4: EV batteries die quickly
Busted: EV batteries are built to last.
It’s not unheard of for modern EVs to retain over 90?per cent battery capacity even after 100,000km on the clock.
As a rule of thumb, EVs will lose capacity slowly at around one or two per cent per year. The things that degrade batteries quickly are extreme temperatures, frequent DC fast charging and neglecting the battery by keeping the battery at very low states of charge for long periods of time.
Most EV manufacturers back their batteries with 8- to 10-year warranties, which is usually longer than the vehicle warranty.
Got a myth? Share it with us on Facebook @carsalescomau
Want more to read over Christmas? Check out four agriculture machinery themed museums and attractions on farmmachinerysales
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