New electric car drivers often complain about range anxiety. Range anxiety is the concern that one’s electric car will run out of energy after driving too far out of its designated range. Range anxiety is the primary reason why President Obama’s goal of 1 million electric cars on the road by 2015 has not been met. According to Business Week, only about 140,000 electric cars are on US roads. The concerns regarding electric cars listed below are very rational and justifiable.
Anxious Drivers
It’s common for electric car owners to fear a reduction in range due to harsh weather, such as snowfall and head-winds. Range can also be impacted the car’s weight. If a driver is carrying a heavy load, then the range will often be negatively impacted. Electric car owners must also be concerned with the functionality and longevity of their personal charging stations, as they may live far away from the nearest public charging station. Over 160,000 of these stations have now been installed throughout the country. Although charging stations are being installed at a very fast rate, there are still not enough stations to ease the worried minds of electric car owners.
Battery Woes
The economically conservative owners are especially leery of a potential battery malfunction. The batteries for electric cars often cost between $5,000 and $10,000 USD. It is important to note that at the scene of an electric car accident, technicians should, “…drain an electric car’s battery after a crash to avoid the risk of a fire, just as you would drain the gas tank in a conventional vehicle.” Therefore, about a quarter to a third of an electric vehicle’s value resides in its battery.
Economic Concerns
Using an electric vehicle as a primary means of transportation is not the smartest plan. Range anxiety is especially a concern for buyers who can’t afford a second car run by gasoline. According to CNN, electric vehicles generally get between 25 to 100 miles on a full tank whereas a gas-powered car can travel 300 miles or more. If you live in the countryside or in suburbia, then you will have constant range anxiety since your daily commute likely includes long stretches of open road or busy highways. Owners in this predicament are much more range anxious than owners in urban settings.
Tesla’s Attempt
A potential game-changer in the electric car market is offered by the company Tesla Motors. The Tesla Model S has the potential to reduce range anxiety due to its superior battery. According to Fool.com, the Tesla Model S covers 300 miles whereas other electric cars cover only around 100 miles. Tesla’s charging stations are also twenty times faster than other public charging stations. However, Tesla Motors has had some poor publicity as a Tesla Model 7 famously caught fire during a recent test run.
The pioneers of electric cars are in the beginning stages of a public relations campaign designed to ease range anxiety of potential buyers. Yet, negative perceptions of electric cars still remain. According to Consumer Reports, 87 percent of electric and hybrid car drivers hold concerns regarding their vehicles; 77 percent of these drivers consider limited range their top concern. It appears that there is no imminent solution to alleviating range anxiety.