EV myths drive Aussies wrong way down electric avenue
More than a third of Australians believe misinformation about electric vehicles, while almost half accept the myth 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.
Researchers from the University of Queensland and three German institutions released the findings late on Monday, following surveys of more than 6300 people in Australia, the United States, Germany and Austria.
Their results mirrored concerns in a recent NRMA study, which found misinformation about battery safety was preventing motorists from investing in low-emission 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 vehicles 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 per cent) - slightly lower than the average across all four nations (36 per cent).
Incorrect statements that EVs were more likely to catch fire than petrol or diesel cars gained the highest acceptance from Australians surveyed (47 per cent), while 44 per cent also believed EV batteries were deliberately non-upgradeable.
Other claims about manufacturing outweighing the lower emissions of electric cars (35 per cent) and EV accidents being under-reported (26 per cent) were also concerning, University of Queensland environmental psychologist and co-author 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," Dr 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."
Acceptance of EV misinformation was highest among people with a "conspiracy mentality" rather than education level, 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.
Both interventions delivered "modest increases in pro-EV sentiment", the study found.
Dr 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.
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.
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West Australian
3 hours ago
- West Australian
EV myths drive Aussies wrong way down electric avenue
More than a third of Australians believe misinformation about electric vehicles, while almost half accept the myth 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. Researchers from the University of Queensland and three German institutions released the findings late on Monday, following surveys of more than 6300 people in Australia, the United States, Germany and Austria. Their results mirrored concerns in a recent NRMA study, which found misinformation about battery safety was preventing motorists from investing in low-emission 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 vehicles 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 per cent) - slightly lower than the average across all four nations (36 per cent). Incorrect statements that EVs were more likely to catch fire than petrol or diesel cars gained the highest acceptance from Australians surveyed (47 per cent), while 44 per cent also believed EV batteries were deliberately non-upgradeable. Other claims about manufacturing outweighing the lower emissions of electric cars (35 per cent) and EV accidents being under-reported (26 per cent) were also concerning, University of Queensland environmental psychologist and co-author 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," Dr 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." Acceptance of EV misinformation was highest among people with a "conspiracy mentality" rather than education level, 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. Both interventions delivered "modest increases in pro-EV sentiment", the study found. Dr 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. 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.
Perth Now
3 hours ago
- Perth Now
EV myths drive Aussies wrong way down electric avenue
More than a third of Australians believe misinformation about electric vehicles, while almost half accept the myth 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. Researchers from the University of Queensland and three German institutions released the findings late on Monday, following surveys of more than 6300 people in Australia, the United States, Germany and Austria. Their results mirrored concerns in a recent NRMA study, which found misinformation about battery safety was preventing motorists from investing in low-emission 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 vehicles 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 per cent) - slightly lower than the average across all four nations (36 per cent). Incorrect statements that EVs were more likely to catch fire than petrol or diesel cars gained the highest acceptance from Australians surveyed (47 per cent), while 44 per cent also believed EV batteries were deliberately non-upgradeable. Other claims about manufacturing outweighing the lower emissions of electric cars (35 per cent) and EV accidents being under-reported (26 per cent) were also concerning, University of Queensland environmental psychologist and co-author 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," Dr 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." Acceptance of EV misinformation was highest among people with a "conspiracy mentality" rather than education level, 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. Both interventions delivered "modest increases in pro-EV sentiment", the study found. Dr 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. 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.
ABC News
12 hours ago
- ABC News
Even Australia's EV owners believe misinformation about cars, study finds
Australians are buying more electric vehicles (EVs) than ever before, but even owners are still falling for misinformation about the battery-powered cars. New research into public perceptions about EVs found myths had become deeply embedded in society and caught up in the culture wars. Now more people believed misinformation about EVs than disagreed with it. Drivers were particularly concerned about "discredited notions" that the vehicles were more likely to catch fire, and that batteries were designed to fail. The peer-reviewed study, published in Nature Energy, was carried out in Australia, Germany, Austria, and the United States. Researchers found that many people expressed "legitimate anxiety" that EV batteries may run out before reaching a destination. But there were several misinformation-related concerns that were so "grounded in myth" even EV owners agreed with them. Many people largely believed reports that batteries were made to be deliberately non-upgradeable. Consumers were also under the impression that EVs emit electromagnetic fields that can damage health, are less safe in a collision, and produce more carbon emissions over a lifetime than traditional cars. Chris Bretter from the University of Queensland, which led the study, described these types of claims as "demonstrably false". "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," Dr Bretter said. "The fact that even EV owners were more likely than not to agree with misinformation underscores just how embedded it's become in society." Media reports describing EVs as being highly combustive, "like a bomb" were contributing to fears about the cars' batteries catching fire, the researchers said. There was also a tendency for misinformation to be spread in conservative communication channels, raising concerns about EV attitudes being "drawn into the culture wars". "The fact that even owners had high levels of misinformation agreement underscores the extent to which misinformation has permeated the population," the report stated. The survey found that having a conspiracy mentality was the main factor influencing beliefs. The report said that suspicions could arise if there were perceived motives for government or industry to exaggerate the benefits of a technology and disguise its dangers. "Given that EVs are a multi-billion-dollar industry frequently supported by emissions-sensitive governments, it seems plausible they could become targets of suspicion for those who see such relationships through the lens of corruption and secret agendas," the researchers said. UQ Business School professor Matthew Hornsey said education played no role in whether survey respondents agreed with false information about EVs. "The biggest predictor of whether a person accepted misinformation statements was actually conspiracy mentality — a tendency to believe conspiracies occur and seeing the world through a lens of corruption and secret agendas," Professor Hornsey said. "This same outlook has also been associated with opposition to science-backed technologies like vaccinations and wind farms. "The results show public understanding of EVs has been distorted by an information landscape shaped by myths, selective framing and speculative reasoning," he said. The researchers tested strategies to reduce belief in EV misinformation, increase support for pro-EV policy and an intention to purchase the vehicles. They provided information to consumers using a traditional fact sheet and conversations with generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT. Both were found to have success in reducing misinformation. "Encouragingly, both strategies resulted in lower endorsement of EV misinformation, even 10 days on," Dr Better said. The researchers were particularly interested in the effect of dialogues with AI on public mistrust, and the results were encouraging. It resulted in "large and durable decreases in individuals' conspiracy theorising". "This is the first evidence that non-curated conversations with Generative AI can have positive effects on misinformation, showing its promise for possible future solution-focused interventions on a large scale," Dr Bretter 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." The project also involved researchers from the Leibniz Institute for Psychology and the University of Hohenheim in Germany. This research was supported by an ARC Laureate grant and a grant from Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation).
