Every few months we see the same story floating around on social media that electric cars are more likely to die and get stuck in traffic jams. This suggests they are dangerous, don’t have heating, or run out of battery in about three hours. So are electric vehicles dangerous in traffic jams? Absolutely not.
Earlier this year, a massive 48-mile traffic jam hit Virginia’s I-95 on a cold, snowy day, and we immediately saw EV fear-mongering hit an all-time high. If those were all electric vehicles, the situation would have been a “disaster.”
A reader actually sent us these Facebook-circulating graphics in response to one of our recent EV articles. In reality, electric cars use very little electricity when not driving, last for days, and can easily keep you safe and warm (or cool) during long traffic jams.
The rumors
The biggest scam the world has ever seen? Has anyone thought about this?
If all cars were electric… stuck in a three-hour traffic jam… dead batteries! Then what?
Not to mention that there is practically no heating in an electric vehicle. JUST SAYING? pic.twitter.com/GGdKWII5zZ
— Tony (@ItallionTony) May 29, 2021
“If all cars were electric… and got stuck in a three-hour traffic jam… dead batteries! Then what?”
I don’t even know where to start with this. And while someone stuck in traffic with an extremely low battery would be in a less than ideal situation, regular gas-powered cars can also run out of gas. Of course, it’s a bit easier to find a jerrycan and quickly fill up with some gas, but it’s a problem for both types of vehicles.
Additionally, newer EVs like the Ford F-150 Lightning have bi-directional charging and can share their huge battery with other EVs in an emergency. The battery in the Ford Lightning can even power your home. It’s not the only one with this feature, and more are on the way.
And when I say that an electric vehicle only lasts about 3 hours before the battery dies, I have to vehemently disagree. That’s just plain wrong. In fact, if you hardly ever use the air conditioning or heating, an electric vehicle can sit in traffic for more than a few days.
“Not to mention that there is practically no heating in an electric vehicle. JUST SAYING?”
Not correct!
The facts about the electric vehicle
While it’s true that EVs lose some battery power due to the cold, most modern EVs have heat pumps and cooling systems to keep the battery at optimal operating temperatures. This means the weather won’t affect the battery as badly as you think, or as badly as some comments around the web would have you believe.
Additionally, EVs don’t use the battery when they’re not moving, apart from a few low-power electronics inside, like the dashboard and headlights.
On the other hand, gas-powered vehicles are incredibly inefficient, and whether you’re driving or idling, the engine is always running. According to the EPA, gas vehicles use less than 30% of the fuel to keep the engine running, and the rest is wasted on generating combustion, heat, exhaust fumes, or powertrain inefficiencies. Basically, sitting idle in an electric vehicle is no worse than sitting in an internal combustion engine and could be better.
Next, contrary to “common” opinion, electric vehicles have heaters. They are just different than what you would find in a normal car. In a gasoline car or truck, you can quickly warm up the cabin from the heat generated by a running engine. Or the vehicle uses a cooling system and fans for AC.
With electric vehicles, manufacturers use electronic heaters to heat the interior, not to mention things like heated seats and steering wheels. Powered by the massive battery, these will keep you warm and can last well beyond just three hours. More modern EVs from Tesla and Ford actually use the heat pump to heat the cabin, which is far more efficient than heating elements or resistors in older EVs.
Your typical Tesla heated seat draws about 60 watts per seat and is controlled by the onboard computer, which draws about 250 watts. As long as you’re not using additional systems like Wi-Fi to watch Netflix on the infotainment display, the car could easily keep your seats warm for almost a week.
How do electric vehicles get stuck in traffic?
Back to the original question. Are electric cars dangerous in traffic jams? No they are not. During that major traffic jam on I-95 earlier this year, several EVs were stuck for countless hours, and none of them had any problems.
A report from Drive Tesla mentioned how the owner felt safer being in an electric vehicle. The owner, Dan Kanninen, got stuck for over 14 hours, stayed plenty warm and had enough battery to easily make it to a nearby charging station once the ordeal ended. Here’s what he had to say:
“Whereas other drivers burned gasoline to keep their engines warm, my EV intelligently routed energy just to regulate temperature – I didn’t have to inefficiently burn fuel to power my entire engine to protect us. Then, as other drivers fretted about their dwindling gas reserves, my EV intuitively monitored my power supply and gave me the confidence other drivers didn’t have. Throughout my experience in the I-95 swamp, I knew exactly how much power my EV was using, how much energy remained in its battery, and how far I could go.”
Another Tesla Model Y owner was reportedly stuck even longer. This EV had 74% battery left when the jam started, sat for 16 hours with Tesla’s “Camp Mode” on to stay warm, took a nap, and came home with 61% battery remaining. During the entire 16-hour traffic jam, the electric vehicle used only 13% of the battery.
After all, no one wants to be stranded on the side of the road with an empty battery or empty tank. We also don’t want to sit in traffic jams for hours, wondering if we’re going to run out of juice on a hot summer day or cold winter evening.
If you’re considering buying an electric vehicle and are worried about getting stuck in a massive traffic jam, don’t do it. As long as you have enough battery or fuel, most traffic jams aren’t long enough to be a problem. The situation isn’t as bad as some seem, and no worse than if you were driving a petrol vehicle.
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