Recharging the batteries consumes more primary energy than is consumed by vehicles driven by fossil fuels — from 1.5 to 4 times as much, depending on use — and that energy must be generated somewhere.
Olenevalt sellest, kui palju autot kasutatakse, võtab akude laadimine 1,5 — 4 korda rohkem primaarenergiat, kui kulutavad fossiilkütusega sõitvad autod, ning seda energiat on vaja ka kuskilt saada.