Who’s afraid of the electric car? The Narrative War Delaying Climate Action in Europe

A joint report by Science Feedback and Newtral reveals that climate disinformation on transport is not the result of isolated falsehoods or outright denial of climate change, but rather a complex and adaptive phenomenon deeply rooted in local political, economic, and cultural realities. It thrives not on the outright rejection of science, but on strategic doubt, distortion, and emotional appeal.

• The study was conducted with the support of the European Climate Foundation and the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN).
  Read the full report here.

The analysis, which covers Spain, France, Germany, and the UK, shows how misleading narratives subtly exploit each country’s appetite for different forms of outrage by amplifying anxieties related to personal freedom, economic costs, national identity, and technological risks. These disinformation narratives can have a psychologically manipulative, socially polarizing, and politically mobilizing effect on the public.

Electric Vehicles in the Crosshairs

Electric vehicles are the main target of this wave of misinformation, with misleading narratives ranging from statements that they pollute more than combustion cars to unfounded fears about fires or the collapse of the power grid, turning this means of transport into a hotbed of hoaxes.

The report analyzes more than 9,000 contents from social networks, verification databases, TV and radio programs, and messaging platforms such as Telegram. From this research, seven broad recurring narratives of misinformation are identified:

• Climate action in the transport sector is ineffective.
• Green mobility relies on environmentally harmful resources that outweigh its benefits.
• Existing infrastructure is inadequate to support the green transition.
• Climate policies restrict individual freedoms.
• Electric vehicles are unsafe and pose significant risks.
• The health and environmental benefits of green mobility are exaggerated or misleading.
• Electric transport is economically unviable, destroys jobs, and wastes public funds.

These narratives combine facts or partial truths with misleading claims, using omission, exaggeration, or false framing to distort the overall reality. They blur important distinctions, such as the difference between air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and distort public understanding of the true costs and benefits of electric vehicles, among other issues. 

Ironically, this wave of climate disinformation is emerging at the very moment when more robust evidence on the effectiveness and impacts of transport-related climate action is finally becoming available, after decades of limited and slowly developing data. Yet just as the evidence base is strong enough to enable more informed and constructive public debate, misleading narratives are gaining the most traction in national discussions on climate and transport.

A European Problem with Local Flavors

Though the narratives are shared across borders, the report highlights how they are adapted to resonate with national audiences.

• Spain is gripped by safety concerns, with rumors of EV fires and government overreach dominating the conversation. Telegram channels amplify conspiracies, from false bans on single-occupancy vehicles to dramatic warnings about charging stations causing traffic gridlock.
  
• France sees a more ideological battle. The leading narrative claims that climate transport policies are ineffective in reducing emissions, despite a strong scientific consensus to the contrary. This skepticism, fueled during the 2024 European elections, is magnified by a powerful mix of media amplification and political exploitation.
  
• Germany is focused on economic consequences. Disinformation highlights economic fears and environmental doubts, claiming electric vehicles harm jobs, increase emissions through battery production and disposal, and cause more tire pollution due to their heavier weight, threatening the country’s industrial identity.
  
• The UK blends fears over safety, cost, and state control. Misinformation around the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) falsely frames it as a freedom-restricting tax scheme. Public fears are heightened by sensationalist stories of electric vehicle fires and unsubstantiated claims that they are causing insurance premiums to spike.

From Technology to Ideology: The Political Polarization of Green Mobility

Experts warn that the public debate on sustainable mobility in Europe has moved from a technical discussion to a political battleground, where actors increasingly weaponize the issue to mobilize support and polarize opinion. Climate change mitigation, especially in the transport sector, is no longer presented merely as a policy shift, but increasingly as a cultural conflict. This politicized framing, often driven by political and industrial actors, has created fertile ground for misinformation, particularly where climate policies are portrayed as threats to personal freedom, economic autonomy, or national identity.

Recommendations

The report proposes countermeasures that not only respond to false facts but also understand why these narratives permeate different contexts. Among the key recommendations:

• Beyond technical explanations: communication must connect with the real concerns of citizens.
• Involve credible voices: scientists, community leaders, and independent journalists must be protagonists in the narrative.
• Clarity from the institutions: many narratives attack European institutions. It is essential to explain policies and their local benefits transparently.
• Anticipate hoaxes: trying to inform before they go viral, with empathetic and understandable messages, is more effective than reacting once they have spread.

Contact for media inquiries:
Samantha Lee / samantha@efcsn.com