How to Handle EV Range Anxiety

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What is electric vehicle range anxiety?

As electric vehicles (EVs) grow in popularity, the term “range anxiety” has become more common. Range anxiety refers to a driver’s worry that their EV will run out of battery before reaching their destination. Much like the concern of running out of gas mid-drive, EV drivers experiencing range anxiety worry about running out of charge without having access to a charging station.

According to a 2022 Deloitte study, range anxiety is the leading reason why consumers in the U.S. do not consider purchasing an EV as their next vehicle. Lack of public charging stations was the second-highest concern identified in the study. For the most part, EV drivers experience range anxiety primarily when they go on a road trip or a drive longer than their typical commute. 

What is charge anxiety?

Another term potential EV buyers may encounter is charge anxiety. Similar to range anxiety, charge anxiety is the worry over finding an available, functioning public charging station. 

Charge anxiety doesn’t only refer to the concern over an EV’s driving range — it includes finding an available charging station in working order. Historically, EV drivers may have encountered long wait times for public charging stations or charging ports that aren’t working correctly. Thankfully, the number of available charging stations in the U.S. has grown in recent years. Currently, there are nearly 50,000 public charging stations available throughout the country.

Average EV range in 2022

Range anxiety stems from the belief that EVs have a much shorter driving range than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. While early EV models could only go about 70 miles on a full charge, EVs on the market today have improved dramatically. In 2022, the average EV range is between 200-300 miles on a full charge. For comparison, the median driving range of an ICE vehicle is around 412 miles. Here is a breakdown of the average driving range for some of the most popular EVs on the market.

Avoiding EV range anxiety

Even though EVs have a much longer average range now, drivers may still experience range anxiety. Here are a few tips for how to deal with range anxiety.

• Choose an EV with a range that works for you. Before purchasing an EV, estimate how many miles you drive every day, week, and month. This information can help you narrow down which EVs will work for your normal commute. If you tend to drive long distances routinely, you should consider an EV with a longer driving range to lower potential range anxiety.
• Invest in the right home charger. Most EV drivers charge their vehicles at home overnight. There are two levels of home chargers available — Level 1 and Level 2. Level 1 chargers are included with the purchase of an EV and can plug directly into a regular outlet, but take a long time to fully charge a vehicle. Level 2 chargers are an additional cost, but they can fully charge an EV overnight. Level 2 chargers are the most common home charging option for EVs driven daily. You can shop for Level 2 EV chargers through SaveOnEnergy.com®.
• Plan longer drives in advance. If you are going on a road trip or a drive longer than your EV’s range, plan when you will stop to charge before leaving. There are a variety of apps available to help you plan your trip to coincide with available public charging stations. PlugShare, ChargePoint, and Volta are just a few popular resources that help you map out the locations of public chargers. The U.S. Department of Energy also offers a map of EV charging station locations.
• Maintain your EV. Properly maintaining your EV can help it run efficiently for longer. EVs tend to have fewer maintenance requirements than ICE vehicles. However, you should practice safe driving habits and take your EV in for repairs immediately if you notice anything is wrong to avoid lowering the vehicle’s range abilities.