One of the overriding concerns for those considering purchasing an EV is range anxiety, or the fear they will run out of electricity halfway and be stuck. The majority of EVs can travel from 200-400 km on a single charge which is way more than it seems. Here are a number of reasons why you shouldn’t let range anxiety hold you back.
Most Canadians Drive 60 km or Less Per Day
At a range of 60km a day or less, this is well within the range of every EV available for sale in Canada. Try this, the next time you start your morning commute, reset your trip odometer to zero and track the actual distance you travel. We bet it is not as far as you think.
Battery Technology is Improving
There are a multitude of EVs coming out now with larger and more efficient battery packs that offer 200+ km driving ranges on just a single charge. As we said above, this is more than enough to fit the needs of the average Canadian driver. EV batteries are designed to last the lifespan of your car. It is unlikely you will need to replace them. That said, EV batteries do degrade over time, as all batteries do. This will have an effect on your total driving range. It is important to note that EV batteries are warrantied by the auto manufacturers for eight years.
Public Charging Infrastructure is Growing
There are more than 5,000 public charging stations in Canada, 250 of which are Level 3 DC quick chargers that will charge an EV battery from empty to 80% in only 30 – 45 minutes. Most EVs have good on-board GPS systems which can navigate to nearby charging stations and a lot of businesses and workplaces are installing charging stations for customer and/or employee use.
You Do Not Need to Buy a Fully Electric Car
Plug-in hybrids are the solution for drivers that must travel more than 200 km on a regular basis. Plug-in hybrids have all-electric driving distances between 20-80 km, which is perfect for most morning commutes and any inner-city driving you need to do. There are backup gasoline engines or generators to manage inter-city highway driving.
Are Electric Cars Good For Long Trips?
Newer EVs are stylish, comfortable and have a ton of built-in features, making for an enjoyable road trip. EVs are becoming a realistic option for taking long road trips thanks to improved battery ranges and charging stations becoming more common. Most new EVs have built-in Level 3 capability, but older-model EVs may not. It is important to consider this if purchasing a used or older model EV.
Ahead of top speed, power, and the zero-to-sixty-time, battery range has become the key metric when shopping for a new EV. Whether drivers truly need a car that can rack up over three hundred miles between trips to the charger is a debate for another article. The only way car companies can overcome range anxiety is for the public charging infrastructure to become as convenient and dependable as gas stations. Car companies will continue to have to offer as much as possible until this situation comes to fruition.
