‘Range anxiety’ can be one of, if not THE biggest deterrent for many contemplating switching to an electric car (EV). The term refers to the fear of running out of battery charge before reaching a destination.
Many motorists will compare the driving range of an EV to that of a traditional Internal Combustion Engine car (ICE) and claim that it isn’t sufficient. The thought of being stranded with a depleted battery leaves some drivers with stress and uncertainty.
This is despite the fact that with average annual UAE driving distances of 20,000km, the typical daily drive works out at 55km and almost all EVs have a claimed range of well over double that.
Nonetheless range anxiety persists, due to the uneven distribution of charging stations, the time required to charge an EV, but mostly due to a lack of knowledge of how far an EV can go on a single charge.
How far will EVs actually go?
The typical range of electric cars currently available extends from a minimum of 150km up to around 400km, although the rapid development of battery technology and increased efficiencies of the latest EVs continues to see that being improved upon. For example, the new BYD Atto 3 boasts an extraordinary range of 480km.
The range of electric cars has significantly improved over the years due to advances in battery technology and overall efficiency enhancements. For example, manufacturers have been able to develop batteries with higher energy densities, allowing for increased storage capacity and hence longer ranges.
New battery technology utilising unique construction methods, like BYD’s Blade Batteries, as well as different chemical make-ups such as Lithium-Iron-Phosphate, or Lithium Sulphur/Sodium and even Solid-State batteries, will further improve EV range.
Driving range can also be enhanced by the use of lightweight materials, such as carbon fibre-reinforced composites and advanced alloys to lower the weight of an electric car.
Aerodynamics have a role to play too, as streamline design and active aero can reduced drag and improve range. Low rolling resistance tyres and battery cooling systems also help.
By continuously advancing these areas and incorporating new technologies, we’re likely to see EV ranges close to 1000km very soon, with some car makers such as Tesla, Nio and Lucid already claiming over 800km for their latest or forthcoming models.
How can you improve the range of your EV?
In the real world, the range you actually achieve is often less than the claimed figure due to a variety of reasons, such as external conditions, weight carried (or pulled, in the case of towing) and where and how you drive.
However, you can extend the range of your electric car by making changes to how you drive. Here are some tips.
- Keep it smooth – avoid hard acceleration or sudden braking, and use the regenerative braking mode whenever possible as this recharges the batteries. On a motorway, maintain a steady and consistent speed.
- Minimise drag – keep windows closed and remove unnecessary rooftop carriers or accessories that increase drag.
- Manage climate control – cooling or heating systems consume energy on most EVs, but you can pre-condition the cabin while the car is charging. If it gets cold, keep in mind that heated seats (where available) use less energy than the heater.
- Use the Eco Mode – Many electric cars offer different driving modes, including eco or efficiency modes, employ these to optimise the car’s energy usage.
- Plan your route – Try to find routes with fewer hills as uphill driving consumes more energy, and use satellite navigation and/or phone apps to identify where you can stop to charge, if necessary, along your journey with the minimum of detours.
- Drive in traffic – What?! This goes against the usual advice given for economical driving, but in heavy city traffic, EVs actually tend to achieve better range, because the regular stopping and slowing means the regen systems are constantly recharging the battery.
Do you really need big range?
Finally, due to perceived ‘range anxiety’ it’s easy to get obsessive over the stated range claims of electric cars, especially as these are often widely publicised figures.
On the other hand, it’s also important to consider the energy consumption of EVs (the equivalent of mpg or L/100km) usually described in kWh/100km. For good economy and efficiency, you’re ideally looking for a number less than 20kWh/100km.
Be realistic. Consider carefully whether you really need a car with a huge stated range in the context of how and where you will use the car. A high range means a large capacity battery, which translates to a big, heavy and expensive EV.
However, if you are able to charge your car at home, and your daily commute is less than 100km, mostly around town and in traffic, then a smaller, lower range, more affordable and energy efficient EV, might better suit your needs.
