Here’s a little nugget that suggests range anxiety may be an overblown topic: Northeast Mine E test driver, Tom Moloughney, writes on the Inside Line blog that in the year he’s been driving the car he’s never had a problem with getting stranded. And if there’s anybody who should have had a chance to get stranded in a Mini E, it’s Moloughney — he’s driven more than 23,000 miles in the car. Mr. Moloughney says that, in fact, he’s been so unconcerned with range anxiety that he rarely even looks at his range gauge anymore.
It’s gotten to the point that his friends and colleagues fret more about it than he does, wondering frequently if Moloughney will be able to make it to lunch dates and the like.
Talking specifically about the phenomenon of range anxiety, Moloughney says ”I’ll admit I had some of those feelings the first month I drove the car so I know why people who haven’t lived with an electric would think that was so. Heck, even the staff at Inside Line writes about how they feel anxious sometimes about making it to the next charge up. This is understandable because they drive the car for a few days and then not again for weeks. You do need a little time (a month or so) of driving it almost daily to know for sure how far you can go and gain the confidence that it will not “run out.”
As I’ve said before, when the average American drives much less than 100 miles a day, they may not even be given the opportunity to worry about range anxiety because they’ll almost never reach even close to that limit. Given that most buyers will likely have two or more cars in their household, for the rare occurrence that the driver of an EV needs to go more than 100 miles, they’ll just take the other car. Certainly Mr. Moloughney’s experiences would echo the fact that range anxiety is likely to be a non-starter of an issue.
Source: Edmunds Inside Line
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Finally, some sanity! Bravo Tom! There’s been so much talk about electric cars running out of power, and the possibility of being stranded by the roadside. With an EV, you leave your home 100% charged every day. If you regularly drive more than the range can do, you obviously shouldn’t buy one, but the 90% or so of the population that drive less than 80 miles a day could certainly use an EV. Especially if they are a 2 car household. Use the EV for commuting, running errands, etc, and keep the ICE or EREV for the longer trips.
Finally, some sanity! Bravo Tom! There’s been so much talk about electric cars running out of power, and the possibility of being stranded by the roadside. With an EV, you leave your home 100% charged every day. If you regularly drive more than the range can do, you obviously shouldn’t buy one, but the 90% or so of the population that drive less than 80 miles a day could certainly use an EV. Especially if they are a 2 car household. Use the EV for commuting, running errands, etc, and keep the ICE or EREV for the longer trips.
Finally, some sanity! Bravo Tom! There’s been so much talk about electric cars running out of power, and the possibility of being stranded by the roadside. With an EV, you leave your home 100% charged every day. If you regularly drive more than the range can do, you obviously shouldn’t buy one, but the 90% or so of the population that drive less than 80 miles a day could certainly use an EV. Especially if they are a 2 car household. Use the EV for commuting, running errands, etc, and keep the ICE or EREV for the longer trips.
Finally, some sanity! Bravo Tom! There’s been so much talk about electric cars running out of power, and the possibility of being stranded by the roadside. With an EV, you leave your home 100% charged every day. If you regularly drive more than the range can do, you obviously shouldn’t buy one, but the 90% or so of the population that drive less than 80 miles a day could certainly use an EV. Especially if they are a 2 car household. Use the EV for commuting, running errands, etc, and keep the ICE or EREV for the longer trips.
I think the issue will come down to how aware a person you are and how well you plan ahead. Some people are just better at keeping all their details cycling smoothly while others just sort let the day carry them along their schedules.
Remembering to take an extra minute to plug in your car to charge up while not in use and avoiding alot of back tracking during the day are bound to make a limited range seem much larger. Abundant gas stations and relatively quick refuelling are alot more friendly to those who react to obstacles as they occur instead of looking ahead and avoiding likely mileage shortfalls.
There’s always going to be that guy who is running his car out of oil or gas, letting his registration lapse or neglecting his responsibilities as a driver. The shorter ranges are going to be a bigger issue to those who prefer not to deal with their vehicle’s needs.
I think the issue will come down to how aware a person you are and how well you plan ahead. Some people are just better at keeping all their details cycling smoothly while others just sort let the day carry them along their schedules.
Remembering to take an extra minute to plug in your car to charge up while not in use and avoiding alot of back tracking during the day are bound to make a limited range seem much larger. Abundant gas stations and relatively quick refuelling are alot more friendly to those who react to obstacles as they occur instead of looking ahead and avoiding likely mileage shortfalls.
There’s always going to be that guy who is running his car out of oil or gas, letting his registration lapse or neglecting his responsibilities as a driver. The shorter ranges are going to be a bigger issue to those who prefer not to deal with their vehicle’s needs.
I think the issue will come down to how aware a person you are and how well you plan ahead. Some people are just better at keeping all their details cycling smoothly while others just sort let the day carry them along their schedules.
Remembering to take an extra minute to plug in your car to charge up while not in use and avoiding alot of back tracking during the day are bound to make a limited range seem much larger. Abundant gas stations and relatively quick refuelling are alot more friendly to those who react to obstacles as they occur instead of looking ahead and avoiding likely mileage shortfalls.
There’s always going to be that guy who is running his car out of oil or gas, letting his registration lapse or neglecting his responsibilities as a driver. The shorter ranges are going to be a bigger issue to those who prefer not to deal with their vehicle’s needs.
Yes, Lee I think you are definitely on to something. My brother in law is one of those people that puts gas in his car and that’s it. Never checks coolant levels, never checks tire pressure, never ever does a tune up and changes his oil when the idiot light comes on the dash which is when the oil is dangerously low. It probably looks like syrup when they change it. His inspection sticker it two years past due and who knows if his registration is current. I couldn’t imaging him with something that requires even more planning or attention. I’m sure he’d forget to plug the thing in half the time.
However, I think many, many others are ready, willing and able to have an EV and I look forward to having the option to buy one soon. Let the public decide if they want them!
Yes, Lee I think you are definitely on to something. My brother in law is one of those people that puts gas in his car and that’s it. Never checks coolant levels, never checks tire pressure, never ever does a tune up and changes his oil when the idiot light comes on the dash which is when the oil is dangerously low. It probably looks like syrup when they change it. His inspection sticker it two years past due and who knows if his registration is current. I couldn’t imaging him with something that requires even more planning or attention. I’m sure he’d forget to plug the thing in half the time.
However, I think many, many others are ready, willing and able to have an EV and I look forward to having the option to buy one soon. Let the public decide if they want them!
Mr. Moloughney’s experience echoes that of an EV1 driver I knew from San Jose. I agree with Lee, if your the kind of person who has some degree of attention to detail, this upcoming generation of EV’s will meet 90% of your vehicle needs. For the other 10% of driving situations, rent an ICE vehicle. I rent a truck when I need to haul stuff that won’t fit in my car today, what’s the difference?
If a percentage of the population can’t deal with the perceived limitations, don’t buy an EV this fall – wait for fuel to hit $6 per gallon.
Mr. Moloughney’s experience echoes that of an EV1 driver I knew from San Jose. I agree with Lee, if your the kind of person who has some degree of attention to detail, this upcoming generation of EV’s will meet 90% of your vehicle needs. For the other 10% of driving situations, rent an ICE vehicle. I rent a truck when I need to haul stuff that won’t fit in my car today, what’s the difference?
If a percentage of the population can’t deal with the perceived limitations, don’t buy an EV this fall – wait for fuel to hit $6 per gallon.
Mr. Moloughney’s experience echoes that of an EV1 driver I knew from San Jose. I agree with Lee, if your the kind of person who has some degree of attention to detail, this upcoming generation of EV’s will meet 90% of your vehicle needs. For the other 10% of driving situations, rent an ICE vehicle. I rent a truck when I need to haul stuff that won’t fit in my car today, what’s the difference?
If a percentage of the population can’t deal with the perceived limitations, don’t buy an EV this fall – wait for fuel to hit $6 per gallon.
Mr. Moloughney’s experience echoes that of an EV1 driver I knew from San Jose. I agree with Lee, if your the kind of person who has some degree of attention to detail, this upcoming generation of EV’s will meet 90% of your vehicle needs. For the other 10% of driving situations, rent an ICE vehicle. I rent a truck when I need to haul stuff that won’t fit in my car today, what’s the difference?
If a percentage of the population can’t deal with the perceived limitations, don’t buy an EV this fall – wait for fuel to hit $6 per gallon.