Range anxiety is a common concern among prospective electric vehicle (EV) buyers, fearing that their vehicle might not make it through longer journeys. Jasper Jolly's insightful article in The Guardian, part of their EV mythbusters series, delves into this issue, separating myth from reality.
Key Points from the Article:
- Range Anxiety Prevalence: Many potential EV buyers are apprehensive about battery range and charger availability. This anxiety is fueled by reports and statements emphasizing EV limitations, such as those from political figures and media outlets.
- The Reality of Range: Statistically, most daily car journeys fall well within the average EV range. For example, in the US, the average household travels about 50 miles a day, while the average EV range in the UK is 211 miles. With overnight charging, range anxiety for daily use is largely unfounded.
- Charger Network Expansion: The International Energy Agency reports a 55% growth in public charge points worldwide in 2022. In regions like the UK and Western Europe, this rapid expansion is making longer trips increasingly feasible, with charging breaks easily integrated into regular stops.
- Challenges Remain for Some: People without access to off-street parking may find charging more challenging, and public holiday peaks could strain the charger network. Furthermore, issues with the electricity grid in Europe are impacting charger installation progress.
- The Verdict: While range anxiety can be a concern for some, especially for occasional long-distance journeys, it should not be a major issue for most EV users in regions with a developed charging infrastructure. Governments and authorities, however, need to maintain focus on expanding and improving the charging network to fully allay these fears.
Explore the Full Story: Jasper Jolly’s article provides a thorough exploration of range anxiety and the current state of EV infrastructure. To gain a deeper understanding and get the full picture, be sure to read his piece in The Guardian: Is it right to be worried about getting stranded in an electric car?
