Range Anxiety
This is much talked about by both EV owner and non-owners. However, I would say it has changed for me in the last 12 months. I don’t get range anxiety now. With the number of rapid chargers in the UK now, it simply shouldn’t be a thing. Unless you’re going to drive to the highlands of Scotland and do so without a charging plan worked out, then worrying over where your next charger is shouldn’t be an issue. For me, now, range anxiety is not about where the next charger is, but if the next charger will work or, perhaps of equal risk, being blocked by a non-EV (ICE’d). As I've stated before, the number of failed charges I've had, have been relatively small but the times you do get an issue will be when you NEED a charge.
Tip 1: Follow the ABC. Always Be Charging. If you stop somewhere and there’s a charger, use it. If you can charge at home, then do so. Having a full battery every time you set off makes a huge difference to any anxiety.
Tip 2: Use the tools available to make a plan, As I've said previously, you cannot rely on the Jaguar sat nav. ZapMap and ABRP are the current go-to ways to make a plan. In both, you can choose to exclude slower chargers and even specific networks like Ecotricity and then make a route plan. Have a Plan A charger and a backup Plan B. If you’re going to an area you don’t know, as we did in France, also have a Plan C. This might seem like a layer of hassle, and it is to be fair, but you will very soon have all the reliable chargers on your regular routes factored in and only need to plan for new places. Also, with more than 2300 Rapid charging locations and 3 new ones every day being added (figures as of 7th September 2020), the need to plan is constantly reducing.
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