Range Anxiety: What It Really Feels Like (And How to Beat It)

For an EV driver, there’s not much more that spikes those feelings of panic like the idea of running out of battery.

It taps into that real fear people have about being stranded, even if it’s while you wait for a tow to a charging station. It’s an issue that feels avoidable, which is why we focus on it to the point of worry.

That’s range anxiety. The idea of not being able to make it from one charge to another and winding up stuck. It’s extra stress you don’t need and an unwelcome distraction while you’re driving. So how do you spot the signs and stop it from ruining your next drive?

What causes range anxiety?

Range anxiety comes down to a few factors, usually perfectly normal things to think about when you make a trip, but with the added stress of battery life and the range an EV can cover, they create more anxiety than normal, and a feeling that’s hard to shake.

One way to beat anxiety is to break the causes down into smaller parts and give them some context.

Charger access

This is one of the main worries EV drivers have – finding a charger, and it being available. Being unable to recharge is a lot like the idea of running out of fuel, but whereas petrol stations are everywhere, it’s still sometimes a bit trickier to find a charger, which is where the anxiety creeps in.

How to beat it

The easiest way to get around this is to plan your route by looking where the chargers are and connecting those destinations together, or scheduling stops to recharge. Knowing where the chargers are can give you a bit of extra confidence and help stave off anxious feelings.

New routes

Whenever you go somewhere new, there’s bound to be some trepidation. Certain roads and routes have their own quirks. Not knowing what to expect, like unexpected delays and roadworks that can have an impact on your range, doesn’t help.

How to beat it

While it’s hard to get a clear picture of a trip before you take it, using something like Google Maps to plan your route and then running it through Street View to get an idea of what to expect can be useful. It helps you spot the quirky bits of routes where satnavs might get confused, for example.

Then, before you set off, do a quick traffic check. Are there road works on your route? Can you work around them? Or will traffic have cleared by the time you reach that point on your journey? That extra bit of forward planning can help you feel much more prepared and ready for your trip.

Driving conditions

The weather can be temperamental, and a sudden downpour or a storm can completely change the conditions you’re driving in. Nobody likes driving in bad weather, but dealing with that on an unfamiliar route, with all the other bits of range anxiety potentially going on? It can really make things feel worse.

How to beat it

Driving in different conditions builds confidence over time, which can eventually make driving easier. But a quicker way to deal with uncertain driving conditions, particularly the weather, comes back to planning ahead. For example, if the weather’s bad and creates an issue on the route you were going to take, are there alternatives? Do you even need to drive?

Battery level

Obsessing over a battery level in a car is a lot like watching a petrol gauge tick down while you’re driving. It’s something to keep an eye on, but when you first make the switch to EV, it’s natural to be really aware of your range.

How to beat it

One way to stop anxiety around your range is to make sure your battery is fully charged before you set off. Think like when you’d fill up a petrol tank. Recharging overnight or finding places for a break on a trip where you can top-up your battery can help you feel better about range as you’re always close to the maximum.

Pro Tip: Have a plan B

We touched on this earlier, but if range anxiety is getting too much, look at alternatives for a trip, public transport, trains, etc. Can you get to your destination and still have a good time without driving?

Sometimes it’s really easy to jump in at the deep end, and that gives anxiety an opening to creep in. Instead, you could build up slowly, shorter trips, drives that build confidence. Over time, as you get more comfortable and experienced with EV driving, you’ll be better prepared to deal with range anxiety.