How to Beat Range Anxiety
A guide addressing the topic of range anxiety and tips on how to cure the unwanted fear of running out of battery.
Last updated: Apr 29, 2024 • 4 min read
Summary
Range anxiety is the fear of running out of battery while driving your electric vehicle (EV). But it can easily be managed by planning your charging stops and doing the bulk of your charging at home to start any journey with a full battery.
What is range anxiety?
Range anxiety is the fear of running out of charge because of the belief that there aren’t enough chargers and EVs can’t go far enough to reach their destination.
In reality, we hit the highest number of public chargers available in the UK at the start of 2024 and continue to see this number increase month on month. So, it’s never been easier to travel long distances with just a few charging stops. Adding to this, battery ranges are miles better (pun intended) than they used to be and cover the majority of our daily journeys.
What causes range anxiety?
Range anxiety is caused by the lack of knowledge of EVs and the charging network. In 2023 alone, the number of UK public chargers increased by a huge 45%. This means there are more public chargers out there than ever, allowing you to recharge almost anywhere in the country when your battery is running low. As the availability of public chargers increases, EVs battery technology is taking big leaps with many new electric cars easily covering close to 300 miles or even more on just a single charge.
Most of the time, range anxiety is an unfounded fear. The standard UK car drives an average of 127 miles per week, while the average EV currently has a range of 236 miles. These numbers show that the majority of drivers will have plenty of range to complete their normal weekly journeys.
How to get over range anxiety
If you feel like you’re struggling to get over range anxiety, here are a few tips that could help alleviate your concerns:
Public chargers are more prominent than ever – There are currently more than 57,000 chargepoints available to the public across the country. That’s the highest number we’ve ever seen in the UK, and this should only keep growing. Better charger coverage will give you the peace of mind that wherever you are, the next charging opportunity won’t be too far.
EV ranges are miles better than they used to be – The average EV has a range of 236 miles, that’s over three times more than the first mainstream EV, the 2011 Nissan Leaf, could cover on a single charge.
Good driving habits save energy – Accelerating and braking more gently will conserve energy and give you more range. If available, use regenerative braking to repurpose the power generated from slowing down to replenish your battery for better efficiency.
Charging apps can help with planning longer journeys – Use charging apps like our Pod Point App or map for web to see public chargers on your route. Taking note of where and when you may want to stop to top up your battery on a long drive will help reduce feelings of range anxiety.
Home charging is the foundation of range management – EV home chargers are super convenient. They allow you to charge to 100% before setting off on any long journeys and reduce your reliance on public charging. Plus, using a home charger like the Solo 3 is the most cost-effective way to power your electric car.
Range anxiety is reducing, soon to be a thing of the past
The notion of public charging dependency is a key factor in causing range anxiety among people driving or considering electric cars, but it’s wrongly placed, as most typical journeys can be done on a single charge. A fundamental part in eliminating anxiety about range is a mindset shift away from charging on-the-go to top-up charging at home.
As public charging availability increases year-on-year and electric car battery technology steadily improves, range anxiety among new and experienced EV drivers will reduce and eventually disappear.