Range anxiety stopping you from flicking on the EV switch?

Have you been considering switching to an electric vehicle (EV), but are worried about range anxiety? You’re not alone - 2100 others have asked the same question last month alone on search engines – how far can EVs go on one charge? EVs have made exponential improvements in the last decade, which has alleviated range anxiety, and this is demonstrated by the 40% increase in EV sales, with 1.61 new car registrations in 2022 alone. In this blog, we will investigate the history of EVs and explore why range anxiety is no longer a concern.

The history of EV ranges.

Astonishingly, the history of EVs is almost 200 years old. In 1841, Robert Davidson produced the first electric car, which could travel up to 1.5 miles. Of course, this was an incredible achievement for the time, but before your range anxiety goes to full throttle, modern EVs are hundreds of times more effective.

In recent history, General Motors' EV1 electric car was produced between 1996 and 1999 and was the first EV to be mass-produced. The EV1 boasted a range of 70 miles, which improved from Davidson’s EV significantly, but the EV1 had flaws. The EV1 had only two seats, which diminished the practicality of the vehicle. GM did experiment with a four-seater version, but the increased weight and length would cause the range to be lowered to 40-50 miles on a single charge, so the two-seater EV1 was produced instead.

Today, hundreds of different companies are developing state-of-the-art EVs, which all possess a range that dominates GM’s EV1. Every modern EV can achieve more than 100 miles on one charge, and top-range vehicles can reach 250+ miles on a single charge. Although, there are EV models that far exceed 250 miles, such as the upcoming Mercedes EQE SUV, which will have a very impressive 400-mile range. This is not the limit though, as Aptera Motors from San Diego is well on its way to releasing the first solar electric car, which has a mind-blowing 1000 miles range. The industry is constantly progressing, so range anxiety is not as much of a concern and the future is looking even brighter. Visit our charger search to find the right charger for you in 30 seconds.

See the table below to learn how far popular EVs can travel on a single charge.

How to improve electric car range.

Other factors can affect the range of your EV, besides the battery size, brand, and variation of the vehicle. Here are some ways you can improve your electric cars range:

• Vehicle weight: You can help your EV achieve more miles by removing unnecessary weight from the vehicle.

• Tire pressure: Keep your tires inflated properly to help reduce friction and improve the performance of your EV.

• Heating and air conditioning: Try to preheat or precool your vehicle while it is charging, as auxiliary vehicle functions can account for a third of the EV’s power usage.

• Outdoor temperature: Parking your EV in a garage can improve range performance, as hot and cold temperatures can reduce the EV's battery. Try to find an EV that has battery heating and cooling technology such as the Tesla Model 3 and BMW i3 to improve results.

• High speeds: Driving your EV at constant high speeds will reduce the battery faster, which will then reduce the vehicle's range for that charge.

If you follow these simple tips, you will be able to rest easy knowing you can commute to work efficiently every day, as 75% of the UK travel under 10 miles a day to work. Remember the progression made between MG's 70-mile range EV1, and the low-cost Nissan Leaf with the 149-mile range. The future is bright for the industry, and we are very excited to see what tomorrow holds.

How quickly do EVs charge?

There are multiple ways to charge your EV, such as through a wall-mounted charger that can be added to your home, or a floor-standing charger that can be found at your local supermarket. A wall-mounted charger, such as evec’s 7.4kW single-phase VEC03, could fully charge your Nissan Leaf in 6 hours from empty. This means you can drive back from your friend’s house at midnight and be fully charged again for work in the morning. The affordable charger is compact, and modern, and can be paired with our wall cable holder to keep your cable organised and secure while it is not in use.

Alternately, the evec commercial floor-standing 22kW pedestal charger could charge your Nissan Leaf in just 2 hours. The pedestal has an integrated LED to improve the visibility of the charge point and is also weatherproof, highly impact-resistant, corrosion-resistant, and fire retardant. With more businesses using these pedestals, EVs are becoming more accessible for everyone to enjoy.

The government plans to increase public EV charging installations.

If a home charger would not be possible for you, there is a great solution due to the Department for Transport working towards their promise to increase the number of public EV chargers. The target is to have a network of 300,000 charging points available nationwide, which means 3130 must be installed every month until 2030. This enormous boost to public EV charging points will create more accessibility to the public. Here are some of the benefits public charging points have:

• Convenient Charging: Public EV charging points allow electric vehicle owners to charge their vehicles when they are away from home, such as at work or while running errands. This helps reduce the range anxiety that some EV owners experience and makes it easier for people to own and use EVs.

• Increased Range: With public EV charging points, electric vehicle owners can travel longer distances without having to worry about running out of charge. This can encourage more people to switch to electric vehicles and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

• Improved Air Quality: By reducing the dependence on fossil fuels and encouraging the use of electric vehicles, public EV charging points can help improve air quality. Electric vehicles produce fewer emissions compared to traditional petrol or diesel-powered vehicles, which will have a positive impact on public health.

• Economic Benefits: Public EV charging points can also provide economic benefits, this can create jobs in the installation and maintenance of charging infrastructure.

• Boost for Local Businesses: Public EV charging points can also serve as a draw for local businesses, as EV owners are likely to spend time shopping, dining, or exploring the area while their vehicle is charging. This can help support local businesses and drive economic growth in the community.

EVs have changed a lot and are becoming more accessible, thanks to the low-cost devices evec provide and the constant upgrades seen within the industry. To remove anxiety completely infrastructure needs to be in place and we’re here to help! The earlier we start, the more realistic 2030 appears.