As an EV driver, charging at home is simple. It’s reliable and you know you’ve got time, especially overnight, to let your car charge slowly. But what happens when you’re on the road, running low, in a rush, or running late? That feeling is referred to as range anxiety. We can all agree that it’s not a great feeling; it’s stressful. But it doesn’t need to be that way.
Much like our larger goals regarding electric vehicles, we’re all in this together and that means looking at ways we can improve EV infrastructure to improve range. It also means sharing tips for how you, as an EV driver, can increase your range and be more efficient.
Quick Links
- What is Range Anxiety?
- How EV Infrastructure Can Combat Range Anxiety
- Recent EV Range Improvements
- Tips for Improving EV Range
What is Range Anxiety?
If you’ve ever driven a car with the needle approaching E, then you understand range anxiety. The same feeling exists for drivers of electric vehicles who are watching their battery drain while frantically searching Plugshare for available charging stations.
Range anxiety is, in short, the fear EV drivers have that their battery will run out before they find a charging station or are able to charge their cars enough to continue to their original destination. This feeling is, sadly, compounded by EV charging station density as well as concerns about reliability of existing charging stations.
How EV Infrastructure Can Combat Range Anxiety
As a driver, you’ve hopefully used public EV infrastructure to charge your car. However, you’ve also likely noticed that some areas are “charging station deserts” where EV charging stations are either few and far between or in such high demand it’s hard to even get access to charge. Investing in EV infrastructure can change that.
What is EV Infrastructure?
Electric Vehicle (EV) infrastructure refers to the network of charging stations, power supply systems, and related facilities to support the adoption and usage of electric vehicles.
Charging stations, from residential Level 1 chargers to public Level 2 and DC fast-charging stations, are important components of EV infrastructure. All three are part of the foundation of building a powerful and robust network providing EV drivers with convenient and efficient means to recharge their vehicles.
Additionally, EV infrastructure includes grid upgrades and energy distribution systems to help manage the increased demand for electricity and prevent overburdening the grid.
Combating Range Anxiety
EV infrastructure plays an important role in combating range anxiety. As more municipal governments, businesses, and communities invest in and expand EV infrastructure, EV adoption rates will continue to grow as well.
This infrastructure can and should include public charging stations strategically placed along major highways, in urban areas, and at popular destinations. However, it’s worth noting that one of the growing concerns and focuses of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill was to help spur EV infrastructure in rural and suburban areas where charging opportunities can be harder to find.
Still, the proliferation of EV charging stations should help reassure EV owners that they can find a charging point whenever (and eventually wherever) needed. In fact, more and more EV charging solutions are popping up. Workplace and residential charging solutions contribute significantly to combating range anxiety. Similarly, even smaller cities, like St. Petersburg, Florida, have introduced public EV charging stations as have other businesses, institutions, and organizations like hospitals and airports.
In addition to charging stations dispersed throughout cities and at retail locations, gas stations and convenient stores are also getting in on the game. And even more promising are charging hubs, which are centrally located groups of EV charging stations, placed together, that allow many drivers to charge their electric vehicles.
As noted, EV infrastructure is about more than just EV charging stations. Infrastructure also requires real time information on open, available, and working EV charging stations. The integration of smart technology can not only help provide this information but also promises the potential to use predictive algorithms to estimate charging times and recommend optimal routes based on charging locations.
This, however, requires a robust EV charging network as well as networked chargers that can all communicate with one another. Further, it requires the use of technology that allows EV drivers to charge using any charging station and any charging app through the use of open charge point protocol (OCPP) and open charge point Interface (OCPI).
While improvements in EV infrastructure are crucial for combatting range anxiety, EV car manufacturers as well as battery manufacturers are also making significant improvements to expand the range of electric vehicles. And, as we’ll discuss below, there are tips and strategies for drivers to get more range from their EV.
Recent EV Range Improvements
With an understanding of how important range is in encouraging EV adoption and, therefore, EV sales, manufacturers have focused on a variety of advancements, particularly in the area of range improvements. Most notably, improved EV battery technology has resulted in substantial improvements to EV range.
More specifically, research into battery energy density, which is a key factor influencing an electric vehicle's range, has seen the development of high-energy-density batteries. Without getting too deep into the battery “weeds,” high-energy-density batteries allow electric vehicles to travel farther on a single charge. In short, it’s one way electric vehicle technology itself will decrease range anxiety.
In addition to battery upgrades, advancements like regenerative braking systems and vehicle efficiency improvements to extend vehicle ranges. Regenerative braking means the brake system captures the kinetic energy from braking and transfers it back to the car’s battery. As a result, not only does the car waste less energy than it would with traditional brakes, but it’s possible that electric vehicles can convert nearly 90% of the energy to charge the battery. In other words, braking in say a city environment or stop and go traffic would actually help an EV travel farther.
Other efficiency improvements to the actual vehicle body and components, including the use of lightweight materials, called lightweighting, can decrease drag and friction, ensuring your EV moves efficiently and uses less power to do so. Because steel remains the dominant material for car manufacturing, researchers and manufacturers are looking for ways to include lighter weight metals like aluminum as well as carbon fiber.
The final advancement to improve range, or at the very least getting you where you need to be more quickly includes charger advancements. DC fast chargers will, undoubtedly, become a big part of the picture, allowing drivers to top up a charge or charge quickly while on the move, like at highway rest areas. However, DC charging comes with its own challenges, so simply installing DC fast chargers all over isn’t a panacea.
Overall, it’s important to remember that the industry is still evolving and, as we understand the demands and challenges better, research and development can work to meet and solve them.
Tips for Improving EV Range
Now that we’ve focused on tech, let’s take a quick look at what you, as an EV driver can do. Similarly, EV hosts and owners can improve the charging experience for the drivers who use their chargers by sharing this information!
1. Let go of the lead foot
A heavy foot on the gas, whether maintaining a high speed during travel or accelerating quickly from a stop can drain a battery the same way it eats up gas. Instead, try to maintain a consistent and reasonable speed– cruise controls is a great tool. And, allow your car to reach speed gradually rather than going “pedal to the metal.”
2. Lighten your loadLots of junk in your trunk? Consider lightening your load. But it’s not just your trunk. That roof rack? Bike rack? If you’re carrying around heavy items you don’t use daily, it may be best to store them elsewhere. Just like lighter components can reduce the drag and friction that drain your battery, lighter loads in and on your vehicle can do the same. Look for ways you can improve your vehicle’s aerodynamics. If you’re not using that kayak or SUP, or that roof rack, take them off.
3. Map it outWhen it comes to driving EVs, maps are about more than finding available EV charging stations. In fact, as managers of EV fleets will tell you, routes are everything. For example, a map app can help you avoid high traffic areas, steep grades, or even find a route that allows you to maintain a steady speed rather than fluctuating too much or even being tempted to drive fast on a highway.
4. Pump it upYour tires that is. Keeping your tires in good condition can help keep you safe, but also help your car move more efficiently and smoothly. This means ensuring that they’re inflated to the proper PSi, but also ensuring that their tread is in good condition and that they’re aligned and balanced. If you don’t know your tire health, it’s time to take it in to check.
5. Chill on the AC
To be fair, go easy on the heat as well. Climate control, both AC and heat, can be a big drain on the battery, so if you must use them, do so with restraint. When it’s super chilly, heated seats and steering wheels can help as can pre-cooling the car, while it’s charging, when it’s cold.
6. Tap the brakes
Use your vehicle’s regenerative braking technology whenever possible, but be mindful of your braking. Sometimes slowing down is as easy as pulling your foot off the gas, but if you’re going to come to a full stop, regenerative braking can help charge your battery.
7. Charge smart
In other words, charge with efficiency in mind. Once your car’s battery is full, keeping it “charging” doesn’t do it much good. While technology has improved concerns regarding overcharging EV batteries, it can still degrade your battery over time and make it less efficient. In the long term, this will affect your EV range.
There’s no doubt that EV technology is continuing to improve rapidly. That means we’ll continue to see advancements in EV charging and electric vehicles themselves that will help us overcome range anxiety. Ultimately, we’ll see greater EV adoption which will spur more EV infrastructure investment.
From EV drivers and EV station owners to other stakeholders in the industry, we’ve all got a role to play in making our EV dreams a reality. If you’re considering adding EV charging stations to your property, we’d love to be a part of making EV charging more reliable and accessible for everyone– beating range anxiety together. Get in touch with our team and let’s get started.