The notion of Range Anxiety isn’t new, but it has come to the fore as more and more people discuss EVs. In this piece, we have a look at how relevant it is, and we look at just how far EVs go in the real world.

How far do EVs go in the real world? Unfortunately, there’s no straight answer to this one! So much depends on the conditions and your driving style. Now, this is nothing new to motorists in Ireland. We all know that we get better efficiency at 100kmh compared to 120kmh. We also know that having underinflated tyres will cost us more at the pumps. But EV drivers, and particularly new EV drivers, can be very aware of the conditions and variables.

What is Range Anxiety?

Range Anxiety is nothing new to drivers all over the country. We’ve all had it at some stage whether in petrol, diesel, hybrid or electric. It is the worry that we will not have enough petrol, diesel or charge left to get us to our destination. In fact, statistics from the US and UK show that a higher proportion of combustion cars run out of fuel on the motorway than EVs. Seasoned EV drivers with modern cars will largely dismiss Range Anxiety, but it’s one of the biggest factors on the minds of those that are considering an EV in Ireland!

But what affects Range in an EV, and how far can EVs really go? Let’s look at some of the main factors. Then we’ll look at some examples of popular EVs in Ireland.

Temperature

Outside temperature is less of a factor now than it was for early EVs such as the Nissan LEAF. Manufacturers have improved Battery Management Systems to optimise range. Battery conditioning for heating and cooling helps keep the battery at the right temperature for maximum range. Also, some cars now come with heat pumps for winter driving. This massively cuts down on the amount of energy needed to heat the cabin in chilly temperatures. But no matter what EV you have, it will get lower range in the winter compared to the summer. How much depends on the type of driving you do. Early EVs might lose a quarter of normal range in winter, but it’s less for modern EVs.

Speed

Speed is perhaps the biggest factor affecting range. Now this is the case for all cars, even combustion ones. We all know that driving on the motorway at 120kmh will use more fuel than driving at 80kmh. The faster you go, the more wind resistance there is and the more drag is a factor. But it’s more of a factor for EVs. Driving at speed doesn’t give the same chance to gain battery back through Regenerative Braking. Also, the huge inefficiencies of a petrol or diesel engine are less pronounced at cruising speeds compared to traffic.

Tesla Model S Long Range

Let’s look at a few examples of EVs and just how far they go. And we’ll start off with the EV that was king of the motorways for nearly a decade! The Model S has a useable battery of about 95kWh, which is a bit of a monster compared to your average EV. Considering its size, luggage capacity and overall weight, the Model S is surprisingly efficient.

But in the real world, what will the car achieve in terms of range? Tesla advertise the estimated range in Ireland as 652km, which is incredible. That figure is certainly possible in summer if you’re just pottering around. You may even get it to 800km if you’re being very careful. But in the real world, The Model S is probably good for about 550km. In winter, on a long motorway trip, that could be as low as 450km. But that’s a worst-case scenario.

Let’s say that you live in Galway and have to collect someone in Dublin airport. You won’t even have to stop to charge on the whole return trip. In fact, in summer and if there’s a bit of traffic, you may even get back home with 20% battery to spare! You’ll do the whole trip in one go…and if you have a night rate meter then you’ll only spend about €8-€10 on fuel!

MG ZS EV

A much cheaper option than the Model S would be the MG ZS EV. The MG starts at just over €30,000 so it’s comparable in up-front cost to a lot of similarly sized combustion SUVs. It has a usable battery of 68.3kWh. It has a WLTP range figure of 440km. Of course, you won’t get that number all year round. You might beat that figure in summer doing school runs and the shopping. But if you want a motorway trip on a rainy winter day you’ll be looking at 300km.

So what does that mean in the real world? Well, let’s say you do about 40km most days between work and running a few errands. Even in winter, you’ll only have to charge once per week, and if you have a night rate meter, you’ll pay be paying as little as €4 to do that!

But the MG will also work nicely on a longer trip. Let’s say you live in Dublin and are heading to Kinsale for a summer bank holiday weekend. The MG will get you door-to-door on a single charge. And if you’re worried about not finding a charger close to your destination, then just do a 30 min top-up while you grab lunch at one of the many fast chargers off the main motorway on your way down.

Peugeot e208

The e208 is a great city car for those that also like a little bit of fun while driving. The small steering wheel and stiffer suspension make for a really engaging drive. The e208 is good for about 300km in real-world driving conditions. On the motorway in winter it might be as low as 250km, but with charging rates up to 100kW, you’ll be back on the road in no time. You’ll do that same trip to Kinsale with a one-stop to get a bite to eat or have a coffee.

Summary

We see the main barrier to tackling Range Anxiety as education. There are a lot of variables, terminology, and unknowns for people that are not accustomed to driving EVs. The cars are getting bigger ranges and the chargers are getting more numerous. With a little research before buying the right EV, new EV drivers quickly overcome the notion of Range Anxiety.