Electric vehicle myths: more than half Australians wrongly believe EVs are more likely to catch fire, survey shows

<p>Findings highlight how misinformation about battery safety prevents drivers from investing in low-emission cars</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/jun/10/australia-news-live-miriam-margolyes-gaza-israel-sanctions-anthony-albanese-donald-trump-tasmania-election-jeremy-rockliff-premier-ntwnfb">Australia news live: latest politics updates</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>More than a third of Australians believe misinformation about <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/electric-vehicles-australia">electric vehicles</a>, while almost half accept the myth that battery-powered cars are more likely to catch fire, a study shows.</p><p>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.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=copyembed">Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email</a></strong></p> <a href="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">Continue reading...</a>