Range Anxiety

EV-202

This course is presented as part of Evannex Universitya free, open learning environment that presents concise, video-based mini-courses for those who have interest in electric vehicles (EVs)

Range AnxietyThe sometimes irrational fear that youll run out of charge and your EV will come to a dead stop.The big questions are these: Is range anxiety something that haunts every EV driver? Is it something to get wound up about? Is it something that should dissuade you from buying an EV?The answers lie not in emotion, but in a few salient facts

Id like to repeat something I said in the EVU mini-course on Range.

Every car has finite supply of onboard fuel, and therefore, every car has limited range.But because gas stations are everywhere, theres no worry when the fuel gage of an ICE vehicle approaches E.

Unless, of course, youre on a desolate road far from civilization, and your fuel gage shows empty. Wheres the next gas station, you ask yourself nervously, Can I get to there before I run out of fuel?

The emotion you feel in situations like that is called range anxiety.

>>For EVs, its the sometimes irrational fear that youll run out of charge, and your EV will come to a dead stop.

>> The big questions are these: >> Is range anxiety something that haunts every EV driver? >> Is it something to get wound up about? >> Is it something that should dissuade you from buying an EV?

>> These questions can be answered dispassionately based on facts that look at average driving patterns and information about your specific driving profile.

But first, a quick review of the concept we call range

What is Range?Range is the distance you can travel when the EV battery is fully charged.Range is a function of:Battery capacityA specific set of vehicle parameters A specific set of driving conditions

In a earlier mini course, we discussed the factors that affect range of an EV. Repeating just one slide from that course, lets be sure you understand range and the things that affect it.

>> Range is the distance you can travel when the EV battery is fully charged.

>> Range is a function of:>> battery capacity (measured in kWh)>> A specific set of vehicle parameters and their affect on aerodynamic drag>> A specific set of driving conditions, for example, wind direction and velocity, and driving terrain.

But lets get back to range anxiety itself.

Range AnxietyAnother LookWhy the anxiety?Because theres no place to charge! Right?There are over 30,000 public charging locations in the U.S.Over 200 Tesla superchargers enable long range travelSmartphone apps (e.g., Chargepoint, Plugshare, Recargo) helpYou charge your EV at home, every night.

>> Why the anxiety?

>> Because theres no place to charge! Right?

Wrong!

Here are a few facts to dispel that notion.

>> There are over 30,000 public charging locations in the U.S. In parking garages, shopping malls, RV parks, entertainment locations, hotels, and many other venues. In fact you can plug-in anywhere theres an electric outlet you have permission to use.

>> If youre a Tesla Model S owner, Tesla Motors has over 200 Superchargers along interstates, providing Model S owners with free charging on long trips. New ones are being added monthly.For example, you can drive from Miami to New York, San Francisco to Los Angeles , and even more impressive, cross-country from LosAngeles to New York in a Model S using superchargers to fuel your trip, and do it at no cost!

>> There are smartphone apps such as Chargepoint, Plugshare, or Recargo that will find the nearest EV charging location, no matter where you are.

>> And remember, you charge your EV at home, every night. You wake up and your car is full every single day.

Drivers in the U.SConsider a few facts:

About 65 percent of American workers commute no more than 50 miles round trip each day.

Within the range of most BEVs

Only 8 percent have really long commutes of 120 miles round trip or more.

>> To understand why range anxiety is certainly not as big a deal as some make it out to be, consider a few additional facts.

>> About 65 percent of American workers commute no more than 50 miles round trip each day.

>> Thats within the range of a Nissan Leaf, and laughably easy for a Tesla Model S, both BEVs.

>> Only 8 percent have a really long commute of >120 miles, round trip.

Driving PatternsAverages200 million driversAssume 60% drive to work65 percent drive < 50 miles round tripGuestimate: 78 million commuters can buy an EV and not worry about range anxiety

Given these data, lets do some extrapolation.

>> There are about 200 million drivers in the US. Most have jobs, but many are retired or dont work. >> Let assume that 60 percent are employed and commute daily to work. >> 65% of those commuters have a drive that is less than 50 miles. >> Eliminating the others, that still leaves around 78 million commuters, not to mention millions of retired people, who could buy an EV and not worry about range anxiety for their daily driving

But theres a bit more to it.

Your Driving PatternsHow long is your daily commute along with daily errands?How far do you drive for entertainment purposes?How far away is your extended family and how often do you visit?Do your take long road trips (vacation, family visits, etc.)Do you have a 2nd ICE vehicle or a PHEV?

Your overall driving patterns also matter. Consider these questions:

>> How long is your daily commute along with daily errands?If your commute is only a small part of the miles you drive each day, you need more range.

>> How far do you drive for entertainment purposes?If a weekly round trip to cabin in the woods is 250 miles, youll need a place to charge your BEV at the cabin and possibly, along the way.

>> How far away is your extended family and how often do you visit?If grandmas house is 90 miles away, youll have to be sure that your EV has appropriate range to get you there and that grandma has a place for you to charge your car once you arrive.

>> Do you take long road trips (vacation, family visits, etc.) on routes that dont use the interstate highways system?If youre a family that regularly takes 200+ mile road trips, a PHEV or a Tesla Model S may be your only options in the short term.

>> Do you have a 2nd ICE vehicle or a PHEV available for long trips If the answer is yes, a limited range BEV for commuting is all youll need.

On-the-Road ChargingAvailable options are growing quicklypublic J1772 chargersSuperchargers, if youre a Tesla Model S ownerCharging at your destinationfamilyworkhotel

But long trips are becoming increasingly manageable with a BEV

>> the number of available charging options is growing quickly>> public J1172 chargers can provide a partial recharge in a few hours>> Superchargers, if youre a Tesla Model S owner, provide 150 - 170 miles of range in 20 minutes, for free!

>> and of course, you can charge at your destination>> your relativess house in another city or state>> your place of work>> or, at an increasing number of hotelsto name just a few options

Charging at HomeDay-in, day-out, you charge your EV at home, in your garage, overnightIts full every morningA fact thats often lost in discussions of range anxiety

And of course, the big one .

>> One of the major benefits of BEVs is you refuel them at home, overnight, while youre sleeping,

>> so that your EV is full every morning.

Unless you travel long distances on a regular basis, you will rarely need a recharging source away from home.

>> Thats huge, and often gets lost in discussions of range anxiety that always seems to invade the thinking of those who dont own a BEV.

In fact, if you think about it for just a moment, its odd that so many people remain tied to a 20th century fueling station paradigm when a viable, cost effective alternative exists

Range AnxietyAnother LookSure, range is an issueBut its not something that should cause anxietyIn fact, its a non-issue most of the time and can be managed

>> Sure, range is an issue

>> But its not something that should cause anxiety.

>> In fact, its a non-issue most of the time and can be managed in the instances when your BEV doesnt have the range you need for a long trip.

So be calm and carry on.

a free study guide for all EVU mini-courses is available for download from our website For a complete list of mini-courses and the study guide, visit: www.evannex.com

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