Suffering from range anxiety? You’re not alone – one of the most common questions people have is how far they can travel in their electric car before they run out of battery power.
As with anything new, you’re bound to feel uneasy about things you’re not familiar with but don’t worry, we have some useful advice to put your mind at rest.
Electric cars have a pretty accurate range and most of them have built in sat navs or apps that will guide you to the nearest charging point before your battery dies.
You’ll soon get to know what your electric car is capable of.
Are there enough electric charging points to get me through a long journey?
This is another understandable question that people want to know when they’re thinking about buying an electric car.
Access to charging points is getting better all the time and, if you’re prepared, long journeys in your electric car should be no problem at all.
As of January 2022, the number of public chargers available in the UK increased by 33% in the space of a year.
The new public rapid charging units are super-fast and can charge your battery from empty to 80% in just 20-40 minutes – just enough time to freshen up and grab a coffee.
How do I know where to charge my electric car?
It’s always a good idea to do your homework if you’re planning a long journey in your electric car.
According to ZapMap, at the end of August 2022 there were more than 33,996 electric car charging points across the UK at 20,534 locations – a 34% increase since the August 2021.
That’s more public electric charging points than there are petrol stations.
One of the best ways to pinpoint electric charging options along your route is to get an app.
ZapMap, PlugShare, and WattsUp all show live information from the majority of the UK’s charging network.
The apps will show you the location, the status – if someone is using it and how long for – and the cost of charging points across the UK.
Some useful tips to keep you on the road:
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Find a location that has two or more charging units and head there first - double or quad unit sites are generally much newer and are more likely to be in full working order.
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Always arrive at a charging point with enough range to reach an alternative.
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If you’re planning to re-charge for your journey home at your destination, such as a hotel or a shopping centre, check their website to make sure their charging points are working.
The latest generation of electric cars can charge quickly and have ranges of over 300 miles, so even on long journeys you might only need to stop once to top your battery up.
Once you’ve got used to charging your electric car, you’ll wonder why you had range anxiety in the first place.
Check out this video from our friends at Electrifying.com for more information about range!
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