Are Anti-EV Articles Driven by Big Oil or Media Clicks?

[DonTom]

Lately, during these times of very high gasoline prices, I have been seeing more and more anti-EV nonsense. I have to wonder if it is backed by the oil companies somehow.

Here is an example.

"Why so many drivers are walking away from EVs"​

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[DutchmenSport]

I don't think the article is completely nonsense. I think a lot of EV owners were miss-informed when they made their initial purchase. They were promised the moon but once they sealed the deal, reality set in, along with a lot of frustrations they were not well prepared for.

The same thing happens to many new, first time, RV owners (of any make or model RV). The salesman presents a glowing lifestyle for RV ownership. But when the first one is in possession, reality set's in. Warranty problems through the roof, failures, expenses, hard to get into campsites, expenses, storage problems, blown tires, repairs, everything costing money, money, money and time, time taken away from actually using the camper. Everything not planned for, now happens. And we criticize dealerships for lying to unbeknown customers.

I think the same thing is going on with the EV market now. The reality of all those things mentioned in that article hit once the dotted line was signed and people who though they just won the lottery found themselves actually living a nightmare. EV ownership wasn't what they expected, were told, or planned on. It was suppose to be "easy", the answer to all of life's problems, cheaper, and simpler. Lies, lies, lies? Maybe yes, maybe no? But the person at fault are the people who bought those EV's and fell and believed every word spoken to them without actually thinking things through.

EV? I'm not for them. I'll never own one. Why? Because of where I live, how I travel, what I do, it's simply not a convenient mode of transportation for me. But, for someone else, it might be the perfect solution. Why is is "perfect" for some and not for others? Because those who embrace EV's have worked their way through all those items listed in that article and have learned to accept and live with it all.

It's just like an RV, they are not for everyone. Neither are EV's. They are not for everyone. But for some folks, it's a perfect solution for their needs. For that, we applaud!

 

[DonTom]

I don't think the article is completely nonsense.

I can agree with that much, at least in some cases some of it has a bit of truth. But I do not buy the main point of the article that many EV owners gave up on EVs. I think the opposite is truer that many people gave up on ICVs after owning an EV for a while, as happened to me and countless others.

There is no shoe that fits everyone, also true with ICVs. And also true with RVs. There are countless models for just about every vehicle for good reasons.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Lately, during these times of very high gasoline prices, I have been seeing more and more anti-EV nonsense. I have to wonder if it is backed by the oil companies somehow.

Nah, just the media being provocative to get more views. Articles like that one pander to both proponents and opponents, trotting out hackneyed phrases, very few facts, and no analysis, but still triggering numerous page hits as both camps re-heat their favorite arguments. Controversy always sells newspapers and magazines, and especially so in the Digital Age.

 

[DonTom]

Nah, just the media being provocative to get more views.

Well said! Probably has nothing to do with big oil. It's probably just BS to make up for a lack of big news.

Controversy always sells newspapers and magazines, and especially so in the Digital Age.

And helps keep this forum going too!

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[DonTom]

The truth is new EV sales are down while used EV sales are up.

And I think the main reason why new sales are down is because they all have to compete with the used EV market where all the big bargains are, even though I never hear that mentioned anywhere.

One thing is true, as was well expected, is for the EVs to deprecate faster than ICVs, as with anything that is somewhat new. Look what has happened to the price of home computers since they first came out. No reason to expect EVs to be much different.

If "many drivers are walking away from EVs" the used EV market wouldn't be so hot.

But I expect it will not stay hot for long if the gas prices stay up a lot higher than usual, because then few will want to sell their EVs.

Home electric prices are a lot more stable than the gasoline prices. On the road that varies from free to use to more expensive than gasoline, as in many cases, the price is set by the property owner and they can charge whatever they want.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[TheBar]

After reading your link to "Why so many drivers are walking away from EVs" I think I must have written that in my sleep. The exact same things I've been repeating to you for years.

It isn't nonsense, it is reality.

 

[DonTom]

After reading your link to "Why so many drivers are walking away from EVs" I think I must have written that in my sleep. The exact same things I've been repeating to you for years.

It isn't nonsense, it is reality.

If it is reality, you better explain that to WallyMart very soon--see the message I just posted. They are about to make a big expensive mistake--says the TheBar!

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Babe2201]

If it is reality, you better explain that to WallyMart very soon--see the message I just posted. They are about to make a big expensive mistake--says the TheBar!

-Don- Reno, NV

Why? It does not bother me at all if Walmart throws money at something they should not. Did it ever occur to you that they are pandering to the "sky is falling" and the "world will come to an end" crowd if we all don't start driving EVs?

 

[DonTom]

It does not bother me at all if Walmart throws money at something they should not.

Of course not. It also does not bother me. It has no effect on me in anyway, just as with you.

But it should bother WallyMart. They are not in business to throw money and profits away.

But like gas stations, they probably make little money, if any, from the gas pumps/EV charging. It is probably to draw in more customers to the store where the real profit is made.

But unlike the gas stations where local people use them, the EV chargers are for those travelling. At least for the majority of EV owners who home charge.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

And I think the main reason why new sales are down is because they all have to compete with the used EV market where all the big bargains are, even though I never hear that mentioned anywhere.

There are surely multiple factors involved but many (most?) readers are only interested in a simplistic one or two. My own assessment is that the early adopters have all bought and the initial rush is over. Now the demand for EVs, is more stable with a lower but steady volume. Some more cautious car buyers are now moving to EVs as their concerns about range and recharging are assuaged, while others remain in the "wait & see" or "**** no!" camps.

 

[John From Detroit]

I think a lot of it is simply resistance to change.
people are comfortable putting a dangerous liquid the vapor of which is highly explosive and burns like fire in their tanks and then driving off in their gasoline fueled bombs. (NOTE as a police dispatcher with controls of a vast remote camera network. I am telling you what I saw not makin it up)

Me.. when I got the chance I drove an EV.. Nice ride very impresed.

But many preach against it ... Simply because it's different. They never research They never drive one .

They just say EVIL EVIL... Sadly that's not just with cars and trucks.

has nothing to do with Performance, Range, Reliability, cost, environment or anything just...

"For difference is wrong and I'm different from you,
And you'll crush what you can't understand."

From a song by a lovely but not so nice young lass I know and have chatted with.
Oh and the song is about something Fictional I might add. Based on a never published book she wrote.

 

[DonTom]

I think a lot of it is simply resistance to change.
people are comfortable putting a dangerous liquid the vapor of which is highly explosive and burns like fire in their tanks and then driving off in their gasoline fueled bombs. (NOTE as a police dispatcher with controls of a vast remote camera network. I am telling you what I saw not makin it up)

Me.. when I got the chance I drove an EV.. Nice ride very impresed.

But many preach against it ... Simply because it's different. They never research They never drive one .

They just say EVIL EVIL... Sadly that's not just with cars and trucks.

has nothing to do with Performance, Range, Reliability, cost, environment or anything just...

"For difference is wrong and I'm different from you,
And you'll crush what you can't understand."

From a song by a lovely but not so nice young lass I know and have chatted with.
Oh and the song is about something Fictional I might add. Based on a never published book she wrote.

Yes, we all have our phobias--like with my SmartphonePhobia--I wish they were never invented. Some feel that way about EVs.

Believe it or not, I do understand the EV-Phobia. But many try to justify their phobias with BS.

BTW, the time you rented an EV--was that all they had or did you want to try an EV? How dd you feel about EVs before that?

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Brad Buchanan]

Yes, we all have our phobias--like with my SmartphonePhobia--I wish they were never invented. Some feel that way about EVs.

Believe it or not, I do understand the EV-Phobia. But many try to justify their phobias with BS.

BTW, the time you rented an EV--was that all they had or did you want to try an EV? How dd you feel about EVs before that?

-Don- Reno, NV

Kind of like 'transphobia'. No one is scared of trans people, they are mostly disgusted.

As far ev-phobia I think most people who don't live near cities just don't want to worry about getting charged and when that big battery dies having a choice between spending a huge amount of money on a used car repair or just junk it.

No fear, just practicality.

 

[DonTom]

As far ev-phobia I think most people who don't live near cities just don't want to worry about getting charged and when that big battery dies having a choice between spending a huge amount of money on a used car repair or just junk it.

It would be difficult to find such a place these days. And it could be a good answer for those who live far from gas stations when they can charge at home.

In the above link for the Plugshare Map, if you see no chargers in an area, click on that area for more detail and then it will show them too.

If you mean the lifetime of the battery and not just the charge, the battery is more likely to last longer than an engine or tranny in an ICV. Several Teslas have more than 400,000 miles on the original battery pack. Do you know of any transmission that has lasted that long?

Besides the eight year battery warranty of Tesla. Do you know of any ICVs that have an eight year warranty on a transmission or engine?

My 2018 Tesla battery is still in warranty until October of this year. But it is still as good as new as I notice no difference in range (not saying there is no difference, just that I do not notice it). It is vary rare for the battery to crap out before the car is junked for other reasons.

"Tesla batteries are designed to last between 300,000 and 500,000 miles, which typically translates to 15 to 20 years of use for the average driver. Real-world data indicates that most Teslas retain 85–90% of their original battery capacity at the 200,000-mile mark, with degradation slowing significantly after the first few years. "

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[DutchmenSport]

Just curious? When the EV market started there was a push for EV sales, and also a big push claiming free charging. It seems that the "free" has disappeared, or is it just not talked about?

With the push for these new AI tech centers being planted all across the USA, there is an uproar among the members of the respective communities to prevent them from coming in. Why? The electric grid is threatened to be overloaded, thus causing residents power bills to skyrocket while the AI facilities are getting massive breaks.

If this is so, then how long can the "free" electricity still be available? Unless it's not available now already?

If it's not "free" any more, then that's another lie that gullible people bought, hook-line-and-sinker.

Also, there was an increase push for campgrounds to install EV chargers, and the controversy about using shore power poles at campsites for EV charging and such. What's become of that too?

 

[NY_Dutch]

...
Also, there was an increase push for campgrounds to install EV chargers, and the controversy about using shore power poles at campsites for EV charging and such. What's become of that too?

I can't speak to the other questions, but my daughter and drove through Gilbert Lake State Park near Oneonta, NY last week, to check out the cabin we've rented for 4th of July week. As we toured, I noticed several EV's plugged into the site power panels. I couldn't tell from the street if they were plugged into the 30 or 50 amp outlet, with the RV plugged into the other one.

 

[DonTom]

When the EV market started there was a push for EV sales, and also a big push claiming free charging. It seems that the "free" has disappeared, or is it just not talked about?

I have talked about it countless times here.

Perhaps you mean the old Tesla Model S. It has free supercharging for life of the car, even if you buy a used one today. Also, Tesla usually gives free Supercharging with a new sale--for six months. Not that it is a big deal, I got it with mine and only used it one time for five minutes just to see how it worked. It is more convenient to slow charge at home for a few bucks. So there many different ways for "free", including free to use charge stations paid for by the city or even the state. Also federal grants--but that has a major problem. The feds pay the state in install them. I do not know who pays for the electricity. But after they are installed, there is no money for maintenance. So when they break they rot away unrepaired forever. Donner Summit rest areas, CA has one for WB as well as EB. DCFC. One broke, the other was vandalized (connectors cut). Years ago-- still both broken today but not removed, No money for that either, nobody to pay to do anything with those. Both are Cal-Trans DCFC, from a federal grant to the State of CA.

Same with several others. Such as the rest stop in Hawthorne, NV.

Tesla no longer has free charging for life except for the old Tesla Model S. And I think for Cybertrucks that were purchased during a certain time period because of the very poor sales.

There is still some free to use working charge stations, such as the one I mentioned here. And here. And here, and other places. Countless free to use level two EV charge stations here in the Reno area--mostly in casino parking lots, but also motels, restaurants and other places that are open to anybody--do not need to be a customer except in some cases.

So I do not know which version of "free" you mean. Free DCFCs are getting rare because most of those are from federal grants from years ago. There is nobody paid to fix those. Or even to remove them.

The electric grid is threatened to be overloaded

That is a big myth for the states that have the most EVs. CA (the state with the most EVs) has the opposite problem. They overdid it have have more juice than they can get rid of. See here.

" We have charged all the batteries we can charge. We have sold all the power that we can sell.’”

Also, there was an increase push for campgrounds to install EV chargers, and the controversy about using shore power poles at campsites for EV charging and such. What's become of that too?

Several RV parks now have Level Two Charge stations. Many KOAs as well as the place I stayed here at the Twin Buttes RV. See the 4th photo down.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[DonTom]

After reading your link to "Why so many drivers are walking away from EVs" I think I must have written that in my sleep. The exact same things I've been repeating to you for years.

It isn't nonsense, it is reality.

I decided to check to see what AI says about that:

"U.S. EV sales reached record levels in 2024 with approximately 1.6 million units sold, capturing about 10% of the light-duty vehicle market, though growth moderated in late 2025 due to the expiration of federal tax credits. In the first quarter of 2026, only six auto brands reported EV sales growth, reflecting a market that has shifted from rapid expansion to more stable, albeit slower, adoption.

The U.S. market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 11.6% to 13.6% through the next decade, with market value estimates ranging from $122 billion in 2025 to over $263–439 billion by 2030–2034. Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) dominated the sector with a 69% share in 2024, and California remains the largest regional market, accounting for roughly 71% of U.S. EV revenue.

Key drivers include expanding charging infrastructure, advancements in battery technology, and corporate fleet electrification, while challenges such as high upfront costs, rural infrastructure gaps, and regulatory shifts (including the rollback of some federal fuel economy standards) continue to impact growth trajectories. "

As of May 2026, there are approximately 6.7 million Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) currently on the road in the United States.

This figure is derived from the cumulative sales data reported through March 2026:

• Total Plug-in Sales: Over 8.05 million plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) have been sold cumulatively since 2010.
• BEV Dominance: BEVs account for approximately 80–85% of these cumulative sales, translating to roughly 6.4 to 6.8 million units.
• Recent Activity: In March 2026 alone, 88,582 new BEVs were sold, continuing the trend where BEVs significantly outsell Plug-in Hybrids (PHEVs), which made up only about 16,000 of that month's sales.

While over 8 million plug-in vehicles have been sold, the number currently registered and driving is slightly lower due to vehicle retirements, accidents, and exports, but the BEV fleet remains the dominant segment of the electric market, representing about 1.9% to 2.3% of all light-duty vehicles in operation."
And because I was curious:


"the previously cited figures do not include electric motorcycles.
The statistics of ~8.06 million cumulative plug-in sales and ~6.7 million BEVs refer exclusively to light-duty vehicles (passenger cars, SUVs, and light trucks). Major data sources like the Alliance for Automotive Innovation and the U.S. Department of Energy track these segments separately from two-wheelers.
Electric Motorcycle Context:

• Separate Category: Electric motorcycles, scooters, and e-bikes are classified as "electric two-wheelers" and are tracked in distinct market reports.
• Market Size: The electric motorcycle market is significantly smaller, with estimates suggesting roughly 37,700 to 50,000 units sold annually in the U.S. in recent years, compared to over 1 million electric cars and trucks sold in 2024 alone.
• Total Impact: Even if all electric motorcycles sold over the last decade were added, they would represent less than 1% of the total electric vehicle stock cited earlier. "

For those who d not know, "BEV" means Battery <only> EV. IOW, it does NOT include hybrids.

All eight of my EVs are BEVs (six are motorcycles).

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[weighit]

When I purchased my 2025 Model X for a short time if you bought within that designated time frame, you got to transfer the full self driving you may have purchased ( had owned a 2019 Model X) on another Tesla AND get free supercharging for the life that you own that car. I have used the free supercharging power twice now, and yes no cost to gain power, but I find it so much easier to just plug into the power in my garage every night. Two weeks ago had to make a trip down to Phoenix, 102 miles each way. So left the house with 85% charge and once home plugged back in to return to that 85%. My cost of power was $8.15 so seeing gas around here at $4.79 per gallon I think it was pretty darn cheap to drive my electric car.