Talk:Electric vehicle

Section Name Change
I renamed the “Polluter pay principle” section, “Government incentivization.” I believe this removes potential political bias due to the original title not acknowledging the wheel-to-well and mining emissions EV owners would also be responsible for. If “Polluter pay principle” is restored as the section title, I think we would need to cite and explain the origin of the phrase as well.

Julyzeh (talk) 02:13, 9 December 2023 (UTC)

gas-powered vehicles, which generate greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.
All gas-powered vehicles generate greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. We don't need that clause cluttering up the caption. It is redundant with text already in the article. An editor has suggested that we need that clause to explain the trend away from the gas power. If that is what you want to say, then say that and provide a reliable source that backs it up. Otherwise, you are setting up facts and asking the reader to reach a conclusion. That is poor writing and synthesis ( WP:SYN ), which is not allowed. Constant314 (talk) 14:21, 21 May 2023 (UTC)
 * User:Constant314, I see your point re WP:SYN in this context. Thanks for your civility in taking the time to explain. — RCraig09 (talk) 14:54, 21 May 2023 (UTC)
 * I'd rather be civil than right. Cheers! Constant314 (talk) 14:59, 21 May 2023 (UTC)

Wiki Education assignment: Research Process and Methodology - FA23 - Sect 201 - Thu
— Assignment last updated by Leozgzzz (talk) 18:05, 26 November 2023 (UTC)

Wiki Education assignment: Technology and Culture
— Assignment last updated by Thecanyon (talk) 05:34, 12 December 2023 (UTC)

Car specific details should be moved to Electric car
I might get around to it eventually but I am hoping a keen student or someone else might do it before me Chidgk1 (talk) 17:56, 23 December 2023 (UTC)

Wiki Education assignment: Geographies of Energy and Sustainability
— Assignment last updated by AnseSmiley (talk) 00:05, 15 January 2024 (UTC)

Definition of an Electric Vehicle
Hi Wikipedians,

I think we need a clear, science-based definition of an Electric Vehicle at the top of this article. I suggest we use that of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which is based on a scientific consensus approved by all of the world's governments. They define an Electric Vehicle as one powered "fully or mostly" by electricity.

I.e. it is not enough to simply "have an electric motor on board" as this category includes millions of non-plug in gasoline hybrid vehicles, which also have a gas tank and engine on board, and draw 100% of their propulsive energy from the combustion of gasoline in the engine. These vehicles are not powered fully or mostly by electricity, they are powered by gasoline. To call them "Electric Vehicles" empties the term of all scientific meaning, and is already subject to multiple complaints for false advertising in many jurisdictions. Gr8ber (talk) 10:39, 2 February 2024 (UTC)


 * Please could you link to the IPCC definition Chidgk1 (talk) 13:00, 2 February 2024 (UTC)
 * https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/chapter/glossary/ (you have to scroll down to Electric Vehicles entry) Gr8ber (talk) 15:24, 5 February 2024 (UTC)
 * Industry standard includes PHEVs as EVs. I don't know about HEVs in general. There is no pompous sounding 'scientific' definition. The inclusion of mostly in the IPCC definition is a giveaway that the their definition is woolly. Greglocock (talk) 22:20, 2 February 2024 (UTC)
 * @Gr8ber I cannot find a definition in https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGI_AnnexVII.pdf Please could you link to the IPCC definition you found. Chidgk1 (talk) 12:16, 3 February 2024 (UTC)

There seem to be different definitions - for example

“a type of vehicle that runs on electricity, usually one that does not use any other source of power” https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/electric-vehicle

“a vehicle that can be powered by an electric motor that draws electricity from a battery and is capable of being charged from an external source” https://afdc.energy.gov/laws/12660

“a mode of transport which is powered by electricity” https://www.edie.net/definition/electric-vehicle/

“a vehicle that is driven by an electric motor which draws its current either from storage batteries or from overhead cables” https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/electric-vehicle#google_vignette

“a vehicle that uses an electric motor as the means of propulsion” https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/electric_vehicle Chidgk1 (talk) 12:44, 3 February 2024 (UTC)

Ah I see now @Gr8ber got “A vehicle whose propulsion is powered fully or mostly by electricity.” from https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/sites/2/2022/06/SR15_AnnexI.pdf Personally I would be happy with this article using that definition as the IPCC seems more authoritative than the other sources I found above. Chidgk1 (talk) 12:58, 3 February 2024 (UTC)


 * Here is a shorter link! Sorry for slow reply. https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/chapter/glossary/ Gr8ber (talk) 15:26, 5 February 2024 (UTC)

Car detail needs moving to electric car
I guess there are a lot of transport enthusiast editors. Maybe one of you guys could move a lot of the car detail and just leave a summary here? Chidgk1 (talk) 15:17, 8 March 2024 (UTC)


 * ❌ The Infobox has links to many different types of electric vehicles, so merging the Electric car article with this article, would just be one of the electric vehicle types. If all types are not merged, then just singling out one of the types would not be helpful to the overall article. Recycle.Recycle (talk) 01:53, 5 April 2024 (UTC)
 * The way I read the maintenance tag and your comment, I thought you were proposing merging the articles and after I clicked "Reply" I looked at the title of your post closer. I believe you are now proposing removing the electric car information in this main article, which now makes more sense. If that is the case, I would share that the electric car information area of the article does have a link to the main article for electric cars. Also, I think many people wanting to learn about electric cars would consider "electric vehicles" as being the same as "electric cars" in their initial understanding, so having some information on electric cars does seem still important for this article. Recycle.Recycle (talk) 02:01, 5 April 2024 (UTC)

Controversy around EVs
Hey there! I've been drafting an email towards my local MP, and came to this article to help usefully find facts, with citations, about arguments against the use of private EVs as a replacement for combustion cars. Whilst this may not be relavent (and therefore I expect nobody to follow on with a discussion of this), I personally believe that public transport, and not electric cars, are the best path towards sustainable transport. That's the backstory to this topic.

There definitely is a lot of controversy around the increased number of EVs on the roads. This includes, but isn't limited to the following facts: EVs have a heightened number of privacy concerns, emissions are released during the production of lithium-ion batteries, and there are many concerns about EV fires.

Whilst I may not have any sources for my information above, I absolutely believe there should be a section surrounding the controversey of electric vehicles (mostly focusing on busses and cars), as it is a very relavent topic to the title of the article. I know that Wikipedia tells you to Be Bold, but this is just a suggestion for improving the article which I don't have the time for at the moment personally. ChillyDude153198 (talk) 18:35, 14 June 2024 (UTC)
 * The article can certainly be improved, although instead of creating a standalone controversies section, it's recommended that information within more specific sections such as Range, Public perception, and Safety, is written in a balanced way. CurryCity (talk) 13:17, 15 June 2024 (UTC)