What we check
We examine claims about electric cars and trucks in the US, Europe, China and Australia using research and official publications from 2023–2026, together with explicitly labeled older studies when they help compare earlier vehicle generations. Observation periods can be earlier or span several years; they are disclosed on each fact check. Modeled vehicle lifetimes can extend into the future. We never present these as observed future results.
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), conventional hybrids (HEVs) and internal-combustion vehicles (ICE) are different categories. When a source groups them, our charts preserve the grouping.
Vehicle generations and manufacturers
Each article identifies the vehicle sample, model or build years, battery chemistry and capacity where sources disclose them. Before 2023 and 2023 onward refer to identified vehicle cohorts. Publication, registration and sales years do not establish a battery’s build date. Modeled future vehicles remain labeled as scenarios. We do not infer improvement by comparing different fleets or test protocols.
All vehicle manufacturers are OEMs. Our manufacturer breakdown distinguishes EV-focused brands from established multi-powertrain brands, using the brand rather than its parent group. EV-focused does not mean BEV-only: BYD also sells plug-in hybrids. These labels describe product focus, not country, battery quality or a verdict. Results stay attached to the tested model and powertrain; aggregate studies without brand-level results cannot rank either group.
Units you can compare
The unit switch changes distances, temperatures and supported consumption figures throughout articles and charts. US visitors default to miles and US mpg for combustion vehicles; other visitors default to kilometres and litres per 100 km. Electric consumption uses kWh per 100 miles or 100 km. MPGe is miles per US gallon of gasoline-equivalent energy: one equivalent gallon is 33.7 kWh. An EV does not burn that quantity of gasoline. Source values remain available in chart CSV exports. A fall in distance per unit of energy and a rise in energy per distance are reciprocal, different percentages.
Four verdicts. No shortcuts.
The evidence contradicts the claim within its stated scope.
The framing omits context or generalizes beyond what the evidence supports.
The evidence supports the specific claim, with the listed qualifications.
Available evidence is insufficient to establish or refute the claim.
Accuracy is not intent
A false claim is not automatically propaganda. That label implies a purpose or coordinated effort that requires separate evidence. This site evaluates statements, not presumed motives. Representative myths are marked as such; a linked claim origin, when available, documents the actual wording and its context.
How evidence earns its place
- Trace it. Prefer official statistics, original studies and documented test methods. Identify commercial research and its sample limitations.
- Match the comparison. Check geography, powertrain, unit, denominator, time period and whether results are observed or modeled.
- Keep uncertainty visible. Small samples, excluded recalls, fleet age differences and future electricity assumptions appear beside conclusions.
- Make it inspectable. Link sources, name their publisher, show publication dates, and provide charts as tables and downloadable CSVs.
AI-assisted research, disclosed
The initial collection was researched with GPT-6 Luna feed-research agents and GPT-6.1 Sol at high reasoning for evidence review. These are AI-assisted assessments, not an independent human fact-checking certification. Readers should inspect the linked studies. News-feed items are never automatically assigned a truth verdict.
Updates and corrections
Reviewed dates indicate editorial review, not the year of every observation. New evidence should trigger a source review and an explicit update to the underlying claim. The news watch refreshes separately and does not silently change verdicts. Once sign-in is configured, suggest a correction in the relevant claim’s discussion and include an original source.
Community and privacy
Authenticated comments are stored in PostgreSQL with a Clerk user ID, display name, text and timestamp. Email addresses are not stored in the comment database. Comments enter a moderation queue. Moderators approve or reject them; only approved comments are public. Personal attacks, spam and unsupported allegations do not help the discussion.
Authentication is provided by Clerk when configured. Comments should not contain sensitive personal information. To request a correction or removal of a published comment, flag the request in the claim discussion once sign-in is available.
Scope limits
This is a curated evidence library, not a comprehensive incident registry. There are no fabricated annual series or full-year 2026 totals. We show missing evidence instead of interpreting missing records as zero events.