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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/10/electric-vehicle-myths-more-than-half-australians-wrongly-believe-evs-are-more-likely-to-catch-fire-survey-shows
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| Electric vehicle myths: almost half of Australians wrongly believe EVs are more likely to catch fire, survey shows | Electric vehicle myths: almost half of Australians wrongly believe EVs are more likely to catch fire, survey shows |
| (1 day later) | |
| Findings highlight how misinformation about battery safety prevents drivers from investing in low-emission cars | Findings highlight how misinformation about battery safety prevents drivers from investing in low-emission cars |
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| More than a third of Australians believe misinformation about electric vehicles, while almost half accept the myth that battery-powered cars are more likely to catch fire, a study shows. | More than a third of Australians believe misinformation about electric vehicles, while almost half accept the myth that battery-powered cars are more likely to catch fire, a study shows. |
| Interventions using fact sheets and artificial intelligence chatbots may help lower false beliefs, researchers say, but those with a strong “conspiracy mentality” are harder to convince. | Interventions using fact sheets and artificial intelligence chatbots may help lower false beliefs, researchers say, but those with a strong “conspiracy mentality” are harder to convince. |
| Researchers from the University of Queensland and three German institutions released the findings late on Monday, after surveys of more than 6,300 people in Australia, the US, Germany and Austria. | Researchers from the University of Queensland and three German institutions released the findings late on Monday, after surveys of more than 6,300 people in Australia, the US, Germany and Austria. |
| Their results mirrored concerns in a NRMA study that found misinformation about battery safety was preventing motorists from investing in low-emission cars. | Their results mirrored concerns in a NRMA study that found misinformation about battery safety was preventing motorists from investing in low-emission cars. |
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| The UQ peer-reviewed research, published in the Springer Nature Energy journal, included the results of four surveys, the first of which asked non-electric vehicle drivers for their opinions about false information about the cars. | The UQ peer-reviewed research, published in the Springer Nature Energy journal, included the results of four surveys, the first of which asked non-electric vehicle drivers for their opinions about false information about the cars. |
| Despite the untruthful claims, more than one in three Australians on average went along with the assertions (35%) – slightly lower than the average across all four nations (36%). | Despite the untruthful claims, more than one in three Australians on average went along with the assertions (35%) – slightly lower than the average across all four nations (36%). |
| Incorrect statements that EVs were more likely to catch fire than petrol or diesel cars gained the highest acceptance from Australians surveyed (47%), while 44% also believed EV batteries were deliberately non-upgradeable. | Incorrect statements that EVs were more likely to catch fire than petrol or diesel cars gained the highest acceptance from Australians surveyed (47%), while 44% also believed EV batteries were deliberately non-upgradeable. |
| Other claims about manufacturing outweighing the lower emissions of electric cars (35%) and EV accidents being under-reported (26%) were also concerning, the University of Queensland environmental psychologist and co-author Dr Chris Bretter said. | Other claims about manufacturing outweighing the lower emissions of electric cars (35%) and EV accidents being under-reported (26%) were also concerning, the University of Queensland environmental psychologist and co-author Dr Chris Bretter said. |
| “The misinformation statements we tested included that EVs are more likely to catch fire than petrol cars, do not produce emission savings and emit electromagnetic fields that damage health – all claims which are demonstrably false,” Bretter said. | “The misinformation statements we tested included that EVs are more likely to catch fire than petrol cars, do not produce emission savings and emit electromagnetic fields that damage health – all claims which are demonstrably false,” Bretter said. |
| “We know this sort of false information is out there and circulating but the scale of acceptance is concerning and poses a significant challenge to the global transition to more sustainable transport.” | “We know this sort of false information is out there and circulating but the scale of acceptance is concerning and poses a significant challenge to the global transition to more sustainable transport.” |
| Acceptance of EV misinformation was highest among people with a “conspiracy mentality”, the study found, although rates of belief were also higher among those with weaker environmental views, women and older participants. | Acceptance of EV misinformation was highest among people with a “conspiracy mentality”, the study found, although rates of belief were also higher among those with weaker environmental views, women and older participants. |
| Participants also had their perceptions tested after a three-round conversation about electric vehicles with OpenAI’s ChatGPT and after reading a US Department of Energy fact sheet debunking claims. | Participants also had their perceptions tested after a three-round conversation about electric vehicles with OpenAI’s ChatGPT and after reading a US Department of Energy fact sheet debunking claims. |
| Both interventions delivered “modest increases in pro-EV sentiment”, the study found. | |
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| Bretter said this represented an avenue for future research. | Bretter said this represented an avenue for future research. |
| “Given the global need to transition toward more sustainable transport options, it is crucial we address the prevalence of misinformation about energy efficient technologies like EVs,” he said. | “Given the global need to transition toward more sustainable transport options, it is crucial we address the prevalence of misinformation about energy efficient technologies like EVs,” he said. |
| The findings come days after NRMA released a report, prepared by Ipsos, that found two in three Australians remained concerned about electric vehicle battery fires and safety despite low incident reports. | The findings come days after NRMA released a report, prepared by Ipsos, that found two in three Australians remained concerned about electric vehicle battery fires and safety despite low incident reports. |
| Eight electric vehicle fires have been reported in Australia to November 2024, according to EV Firesafe, including one with an unknown cause. | Eight electric vehicle fires have been reported in Australia to November 2024, according to EV Firesafe, including one with an unknown cause. |
| This story’s headline was amended on 10 June 2025. An earlier version said that “more than half Australians wrongly believe EVs are more likely to catch fire”; that should have said “almost half”. |