EV range, is it limited?

Is it true that Electric Vehicles have a poor range?

How far can you really drive an electric vehicle before running out of battery? Is EV range anxiety justified or is it a fear of the past?

These are questions that concern everyone, especially as EVs are quickly becoming the new norm. In this article, we answer common questions about EV range and bust the myths around it.

What is range anxiety? 

Range anxiety is not new. It has been around for quite some time and it refers to the fear of running out of fuel in a vehicle. It’s mostly related to electric vehicles, though. Of course, no one wants to be stranded on a deserted road in the middle of nowhere. But how legitimate is this fear today?

In reality, the chances of this happening in the UK are very slim. The next time range anxiety kicks in, just think that there were  in 19,960 locations across the UK at the end of June 2022, with hundreds of new charging points being installed every month.

Plus, EV range has increased greatly lately. If the first models wouldn’t get you too far, the latest models have an autonomy of hundreds of miles.

How far can EVs travel? 

EV range varies from vehicle to vehicle. However, the average battery pack size increased from 37 kWh in 2018 to around 44 kWh, although some cars now have up to a 100 kWh capacity.

People in UK usually travel on short distances, so the average battery size is usually more than enough.

The competition is fierce when it comes to EV range. Tesla Model S used to offer the longest range with an impressive 412 miles. It’s been recently surpassed by the Mercedes EQS which offers an outstanding range of 485 miles. Other competitors are quickly catching up.

These are the most popular EVs and the distances they can travel before requiring a recharge.

Ranges of popular electric cars:

• Tesla Model 3 – 360 miles
• BMW i4 – 367 miles
• Audi Q4 e-tron – 241 miles
• Hyundai Kona Electric – 258 miles
• Nissan Leaf – 168 miles

Ranges of popular electric vans:

• Mercedes eVito – 162 miles
• Ford E-Transit – 126 miles
• Citroen e-Berlingo – 174 miles
• Peugeot e-Expert – 211 miles
• Vauxhall Vivaro-e – 143 miles

Charging points are everywhere in the UK 

The government’s plan is to reach 300,000 public charging points across the UK by 2030. For this expansion, the investment will be of approximately 1.6 billion.

There were new 207 charging points installed in June 2022 alone.

How about rapid and ultra-rapid charging? 

There are 6,018 rapid and ultra-rapid devices spread across the UK, with a total of 13,133 rapid connecters.

The Tesla network has the most rapid and ultra-rapid charging points, closely followed by InstaVolt and bp pulse.

You can just stop for a coffee, charge your EV at a rapid charger and forget all about range anxiety.

Where are the most charging points located in the UK? 

As far as the distribution of charging points across the UK goes, the top three are: Greater London with 10,865 charging points, the South-East with 4,089 and 2,986 in Scotland.

But while these areas made it to the podium, that doesn’t mean the rest of the UK lacks in charging points.

The South West has a total number of 2,259 charging points. The West Midlands follows it closely with 2,159 charging points. There are 2,097 points in the East of England and another 2,012 spread across the North West.

Chances of not finding a charging point in the UK on time are very low.

How about private charging points? 

It’s difficult to determine the number of private charge points in the UK, but the demand is high. Charging at home is convenient. You can charge overnight and ditch any EV range anxiety.

Slow chargers of around 3 kWh are popular choices for home charging devices, but with the right setup, you can get a 7.4 kWh charging point.

On top of that, many businesses are adding charging points at their premises for their employees. They can take advantage of the government’s Workplace Charging Scheme, granting them £350 for each charging point to cover the cost of installation.

Businesses can also think about monetising these charging points by opening them to the general public to cover their investment and more. At Radius, we offer the offer top charge devices for businesses. Check out our offers!

Learn more about charge devices for businesses in our business charging guide.

Tips to increase EV range 

Most electric vehicles nowadays have a pretty long range. But if you’re still looking to ease your mind, here are some tips to extend your EV range:

• Avoid high speeds. Staying within speed limits can mean that your EV range will not decrease as fast as it would while speeding.
• Don’t overload the vehicle. The more stuff you have in your EV, the less efficient it will be. Get a longer range by travelling light.
• Use the battery saver mode. Perhaps not all EVs will have one, but some offer an economy driving mode. You’ll lose some comfort, like heated seats, but increase the range.

EV range anxiety: is it really justified? 

EV manufacturers are improving the batteries and increasing the range of their electric vehicle with every new model.

On the other side, the UK government is getting ready for the green revolution by installing hundreds of charging devices each month.

In this day and age, it’s safe to assume that EV range anxiety is completely unjustified.

Should you switch to EVs sooner rather than later? 

Yes! The time to change from a conventional vehicle to EV is now. The government’s plan is to have all new cars and vans being fully zero-emission by 2035. Also, by 2030, the UK government will end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans.

Large businesses across the UK have already started to change their fleets to EVs. You’ve probably seen lots of electric vans from Amazon on the roads.

However, the cost of getting EVs for your fleet and ditching the conventional vehicles might be too high to pay at once. So, dip your toes into the EV world with vehicle hire or leasing.

Contact us and get great offers to hire an electric van or lease an electric car. Join the EV revolution now!