What Are EV Range Anxiety and Range Confidence?
EV range anxiety is the fear of running out of power and getting stranded. Range confidence is the opposite.
Today’s EVs have higher battery capacity, allowing EV drivers to charge less frequently.
Increasing EV charging infrastructure at home, work, and on the go creates range confidence.
Level 2 charging supports home and work charging, and DCFC supports fleets and road trips.
The EV market is here and now.
The EV Market Has Made the Switch and You Should Too. The electric vehicle (EV) market is here and concerns about finding a charging location for your EV are quickly diminishing. Here’s what future EV drivers need to know about driving EVs with a sense of security and confidence.
What Is EV Range Anxiety?
Range anxiety is the fear that a battery electric vehicle (BEV) will run out of power before reaching a destination or charging station. This concern was common among early EV adopters. A study by Cox Automotive found that over 80% of consumers hesitated to adopt EVs due to worries about range, often tied to uncertainty about the technology.
Experts note that range anxiety is mostly psychological. Just as drivers of gas-powered cars have different habits for refueling, EV drivers tend to develop personal "range buffers" to feel secure. One German study found that EV users often avoid stressful low-battery situations by planning with extra buffer. This behavior is common in all vehicles but tends to be more noticeable in EVs.
According to research from Volvo Car USA and The Harris Poll, 65% of EV drivers said they had range anxiety when they first purchased their vehicle, but most reported that it went away after a few months of driving. As drivers get more familiar with their EV's range and charging options, confidence increases.
Why Range Anxiety Is Declining
The number of public EV charging stations in the U.S. has more than doubled, growing from about 27,000 locations in 2019 to nearly 60,000 by the end of 2023. At the same time, electric vehicle range has improved significantly. In 2022, the average EV had a range of 291 miles.
Studies show that more than 95% of daily driving can be covered with just 100 miles of range. One analysis of BMW Mini EVs found that over half of the vehicles could meet 95% of driving needs with 100 miles of range using only overnight home charging. For most drivers, today’s EVs offer more than enough range for everyday use.
Why Does Range Anxiety Persist?
It’s simple: drivers are accustomed to refueling at gas stations, and simply driving past one without stopping can induce a sense of unease about battery capacity. But what these internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle drivers don’t realize is that 80 to 90% of charging will take place at home or at work, while the driver is parked. The “top off” mentality of the EV means that drivers are unlikely to run out of charge because they typically “top off” whenever they see a charging station. With technological advancements and the widespread development of charging infrastructure, there is a shift from range anxiety to range confidence.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center, the U.S. has over 156,000 charging ports for plug-in EVs installed at the aforementioned nearly 60,000 locations. This number is expected to grow significantly due to the substantial funding poured into electric vehicle infrastructure. The demand for charging outlets is high, with the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimating that the country will need 28 million charging ports by 2030 to accommodate the 33 million light-duty electrics projected to be on the road by then.
Blink Charging recently celebrated our second consecutive record quarter, with 5,956 charging stations contracted, deployed, or sold during Q3, and a new total of nearly 85,000 Blink charging stations worldwide. This expansion and contribution from various sources are promising as we anticipate new electric vehicle infrastructure. This means that EV owners can now relax and be assured that the EV community is here to support them.
How Expanding EV Charging Infrastructure Creates Range Confidence
Fundamentally range confidence all comes down to increasing the availability of electric vehicle chargers, which is unfolding thanks to investments from both public and private sectors. Between 2015 and 2020, the number of charging ports more than doubled, and in 2021 alone, it surged by over 55%.
Importantly, the rapid expansion of fast charging networks is also alleviating concerns about electric vehicle range during long-distance travel. Fast-charging stations have become more ubiquitous, reducing charging time and enhancing convenience for drivers traveling long distances.
In September 2022, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration introduced the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. This initiative will allocate funds to states for strategically siting electric vehicle charging stations and establishing a connected network for data collection, access, and reliability. Numerous states have already secured funding for procuring, installing, and interconnecting chargers so they can ensure proper functionality and promote long-term data exchange. Each NEVI-funded site will feature 4+ connectors and a total power capacity of at least 600 kW. These stations will be strategically positioned no more than 50 miles apart along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors and within one mile of a freeway exit or highway roadway.
Thanks to the NEVI program, fully-electric vehicle owners will soon have access to a dependable national network of fast chargers, enabling them to easily charge their vehicles and drive cross-country without delay or apprehension about locating a station.
