Understanding Range Anxiety and How to Overcome It

All signs are seemingly pointing towards the increased adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) as government initiatives, such as the zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) mandate, continue to support the push for more EVs on the road. However, there are still those who doubt whether they can seamlessly make the shift to EVs. One such cause—and something that even those who already own EVs also feel at times—is the idea of range anxiety.

Let’s unpack what range anxiety is, what causes it, and how best to overcome it.

Range Anxiety and Its Causes

Range anxiety pertains to the feelings of stress that comes with running out of charge for your EV as you’re out on a drive. As many are still finding the idea of driving EVs to be relatively new, at least compared to traditional fuel-driven cars, they end up worrying that there isn’t enough infrastructure installed yet to support them during long drives. This leads to fear of being stranded somewhere without any means to recharge their electric vehicle, thus being unable to reach their destination.

Another cause of range anxiety is how a vehicle’s battery may be subject to degradation and thus limit its driving range over time. This fuels the worry of not being able to gauge if your EV can make the trip or not, even if it was able to in the past.

Ways to Overcome Range Anxiety

While completely understandable, range anxiety can actually be easily alleviated with the right knowledge and proper planning. For one, the fear of not being able to find EV chargers when you need them shouldn’t be a worry anymore as more charging stations are now being installed all over the UK. Here are some tips to overcome range anxiety and help ensure a stress-free trip.

1. Plan your routes ahead of time

Before heading out, take some time to plan your route. This includes mapping out potential stops and charging stations along the way. Over the past few years, EV charging point installation in the UK has continuously become more prolific. Hence, you can put to rest the fear of not being able to charge up while you’re on the road.

Another big help would be to install an EV charging app on your phone that conveniently maps out available charging stations. Range anxiety is more prominent during long trips, so having something as handy as an app to quickly check may help make you feel more in control of the situation.

2. Consider getting a charging station installed at home

Having the ability to fully charge up your electric vehicle right at the comfort of your home can help reduce any worries that it won’t have enough power for your next trip. While it’s not a strict requirement for owning an EV, you might find the peace of mind that it affords you to be a big plus. Luckily, a quick search online can easily help you find a local EV charger installer near you so you can first discuss options with a particular service provider that suit your needs.

If not at home, you can also check if your workplace has charging stations available for employee use. Some offer it as part of their employee benefits while others may have them available for a fee. Knowing that there are charging stations at places you most commonly drive to may reduce your feelings of range anxiety.

3. Adjust your driving habits

Range anxiety is primarily brought upon by the idea of an electric vehicle running out or not having enough power. Hence, to utilise your battery longer, consider changing up some driving habits. For example, if you aren’t in any rush, then try to drive slower as that consumes less energy. Avoid harsh braking as this can compromise your vehicle’s regenerative braking feature, which restores a bit of energy to your battery.

Another thing to adjust would be your use of additional functions in your vehicle. Say if you’re only going out for a short drive, then perhaps you can just open your windows instead of turning on your air conditioning to save energy. Carrying less luggage in the vehicle can also help add range to your EV, as it won’t strain the engine too much to consume more energy.

As the adoption of EVs continues to rise, more charging stations are being built to accommodate growing users. Hence, there may come a time when range anxiety will be a thing of the past. We hope the tips highlighted here can help alleviate your range anxiety, or even finally put it to rest.