Can you explain range anxiety and how it works?In basic terms, range is distance you can cover in your electric vehicle before you need to charge once again. The dreaded range anxiety felt by EV owners in the past has had many second-guessing the practicality of electric power over the years. If truth be told, it was, and still is something to consider but the overall distance range of an electric car has improved dramatically in the last ten years. With a little planning and proper understanding of your daily commute the anxiety will dissipate as you acclimatise to life with an EV.

Studies have shown that for the vast majority, electric cars can easily do the daily commute with power in reserve on a single charge. Broadly speaking a 40kWh battery provides around 270km range on one charge, while a 62kWh battery provides up to 385km on a single charge.

If you happen to cover 50km per day on average, a 40kWh car would only need to be charged every five or six days, or once a week with a 62kWh car. Driving style, where you live, weather conditions all play a factor but most will find the range of a modern EV more than adequate.

Is there anything we can do to limit range anxiety?The key to eliminating range anxiety is to know where to charge in your area, home or workplace. The ESB has installed approximately 1,350 charge points across Ireland, with that number continuing to grow. Other suppliers have also come on stream, some with high speed charging capabilities.

Our advice is to make sure you have a home-charging unit also if possible because this really is the key to commuting daily with ample range. On arrival home, simply get into the habit of plugging the vehicle in. On average, 80% of car journeys in Ireland cover 20km or less and with typical electric vehicle ranges going from 200km up to 500km, you can quickly put your mind at ease.

What electric car currently has the best range in Ireland?This varies really because each and every week another manufacturer is claiming to have more range than its competitor. Tesla had the market sown up for many years with a choice of vehicles that could easily do 400km and beyond. Right now the game has changed and Kia, VW and Hyundai to name but a few have vehicles capable of this range and more also.

Things are happening so fast and the technology is improving so much that we believe it won’t be long before range gets greater than that of a combustion powered car. We recently tested the Mercedes-Benz EQS450+, which is capable of over 700 kilometers on a single charge. There are electric vehicles currently undergoing testing capable of 1200km in between charges! Our advice is not to worry about “best range” but try pick what vehicle best suits your needs.

What does WLTP mean?So you keep seeing WLTP after the range quoted on electric vehicles and can’t figure out what it stands for? Well let us help! The Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure was developed using real-driving data, gathered from around the world. WLTP therefore better represents everyday driving usage allowing you to calculate the range needed. In the past some manufacturers quoted range figures that were nearly impossible to achieve.

The WLTP driving cycle is divided into four tests with different average speeds: low, medium, high and extra high. Each part contains a variety of driving phases, stops, acceleration and braking phases. For a certain car type, each powertrain configuration is tested with WLTP for the car’s lightest (most economical) and heaviest (least economical) version.

WLTP was developed with the aim of being used as a global test cycle across different world regions, so pollutant and CO2 emissions as well as fuel consumption values would be comparable worldwide.

Is there any way to improve my electric car range?Most of this comes down to common sense really. We know the power surge in an EV is addictive when you sink the go pedal but you will do your range no favours. Fast acceleration and heavy braking are not kind on battery range so it helps to adopt a smooth driving style. If the vehicle has an ECO mode, use it and likewise with the regenerative braking. Drive with regen engaged so you can harvest energy when slowing down. Go easy on the heat settings on cold mornings and likewise with the AC on sunny days.

These items all use more battery power and thus take a little from your range. Other things to keep in mind are travelling light and making sure your tyres are correctly inflated. Hauling a heavy boot load of golf clubs and sports gear around all week is pretty pointless if not needed. Likewise with having soft tyres, which produces more rolling resistance leading to poorer range. Once you adopt your mindset a little knowing there is no combustion power to bail you out, you will become more mindful of range and how to maximise it.

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