If you bought an EV in the past year, like a million other Americans did, it may be your first time silently gliding up to a holiday gathering, and you’re going to get noticed. Like it or not, it may feel like you are an ambassador for the electric movement as you get a barrage of questions from EV-curious friends and family. People have heard lots of things about electric cars, but you may be their first actual EV driver.

If this feels overwhelming, don’t worry. Recurrent can help prepare you for the holiday journey ahead. Think of these as your guiding principles for holiday engagement this year.

Avoid the partisan politics

The holidays are a time for pulling close the people that you love, and that sometimes means avoiding the things that can push you apart. Electric cars, whether anyone likes it or not, have become a politicized topic. 

Our #1 piece of advice throughout the holidays is to keep it personal rather than political. Focusing on your experience with your EV keeps it conversational. Instead of speaking about electric cars in general, you’re simply sharing about yourself.

But address the latest EV myths 

The prevailing EV myths are rampant so you may find yourself on the front lines debunking even the most well-meaning inquiries. 

The key is being the first to address the myth, using this handy template: “I had heard X, but have found Y, and I’m benefiting from Z.”

While we wrote a whole article on EV myths, here are a few talking points that you can use. 

• “I had heard that electric car batteries die quickly, but discovered that battery replacements are super rare, even with vehicles that have been on the road for 10 years. Technology has evolved a ton in that time – remember your phone from 2012? Plus, the warranty on the battery will likely outlast my ownership, so I’m not concerned.”
• “I had heard that electric cars are not clean when charged by coal power plants, but discovered that they are always an improvement over combustion engines because electric motors are so efficient. And, I just learned that my state produces a lot of renewable energy.”
• “I had heard that electric cars are less efficient in cold weather, then learned that all cars lose range in the winter. So I bought a car that will still go for over 200 miles in freezing conditions and could idle for days if stranded. Plus, have you experienced the coziness of preconditioning?”
• “I had heard that the energy grid can’t support electric cars, but found that most charging does not happen at peak hours and the big batteries in EVs may actually be a solution rather than a problem.”
• “I had heard that electric cars are un-American, but learned that US companies like Tesla, GM, Ford and Rivian are leading the way, and I like supporting domestic innovation.”

Brushing up on the basics

Our team of battery scientists created a free EV 101 series for you and your interested family members. While you may already feel like a seasoned EV pro, sign up now to get the first few lessons in before the next family gathering. (You can also forward them the link!)

Limited on time? Here’s a quick e-book on range and battery basics. If nothing else, it’ll give you some charging tips for any holiday road trips ahead. 

Happy holidays and thanks as always for driving electric!