Is range anxiety a real issue?

The main issue regarding electric cars is really the range. It is, in fact, the main point of contention with all potential electric car owners.

There is a great difference between the reality and the perception of this issue. Those who own an electric car will testify to the sense of freedom they feel whenever they take their car out, as they are confident of traveling as far as they want to without worrying about sufficient “fuel” and without finding a refilling station.  Part of this freedom is also relief from the hassle of searching for gas stations with the lowest-cost fuel.

Owners of electric cars will often comment on the ease of “refueling," or recharging. The charge can be achieved in about the same amount of time it takes to refuel a fossil fueled car, and in some cases (more and more with modern technological advances) even less time than that. 

While most electric cars today can only boast of a 40-100 mile (65-160km) range, this is more than what most people would cover on any trip:

• The United Kingdom’s Transport Department reports that 93 percent of car journeys are less than 25 miles (40km), with an average of 6.46 miles (10.4km)
• America’s Transportation Department gives an estimate of 29 miles average travel by any American driver (46.67 km) on a daily basis, with a 12 mile (19 km) average on a single drive. In other words, a typical roundtrip from home to work drive
• Few travel over 50 miles (80km) from their homes. It may be that only a handful of drivers need to travel such long distances only several times per year

To charge an electric car, all you really need is the standard power outlet that can be found in any building. This acts as the charging point for the car batteries. It is very convenient for owners of electric cars to plug in for a charge at their destination (home or work). Therefore, range concerns are dispelled as their cars are charged for further travel.

Even so, the time spent in stopping for recharges is not significant enough to hinder an extended trip. A domestic socket usually requires 5-10 hours for a full charge of the electric car. This time can vary depending on the car as well as the country. North America offers only 110V supply, but other parts of the world offer 220V supply; the latter charges electric cars much faster.

A dedicated charging point will charge electric cars faster, as they are made to offer higher currents for charging these types of batteries as quickly and efficiently as possible. It would take only 30-45 minutes to charge your electric car to 80 percent capacity using a dedicated charger.

Between owners of non-electric and electric cars, there is an interesting concern regarding range that can be noted:

• Owners of non-electric cars perceive range as a persistent problem since they are concerned about the prospect of finding a refueling station
• Owners of electric cars enjoy the fact that there is