Is range anxiety a thing of the past? Study reveals majority of EV owners confident with long-distance journeys

New research from ev.energy has found that EV owners are feeling increasingly confident with long-distance journey’s, as range anxiety now impacts less than a quarter of drivers.

According to the study, over half (58%) of respondents are confident in planning long-distance trips, with over three-quarters of respondents (77%) having never, rarely or occasionally experienced concerns about their EV’s range.

This data comes as EV adoption shows no signs of slowing, despite the recent ICE ban delay. In fact, EY analysis indicates buying intent increased to 54% this year, rising from 49% in 2022. With more EVs on the road, smart charging options are vital to ensure a greener and cheaper experience both at home and on the go.

Technology pushes home charging ahead, signalling a need for smart public infrastructure

More than a quarter of EV drivers are now opting solely for home charging (27%). Respondents cited themes such as the increased availability of home chargers, EVs now having better batteries for further range, and technologies that help drivers save money – such as smart home charging capabilities that automatically opt for not only the cheapest but the greenest charge.

While annual mileage in the UK only averages 5-10,000 per driver, public chargers are still vital for longer trips, with 73% of drivers saying they have utilised a rapid public charger and 67% of those having done so in the past 12 months. Public charger use rises to 92% for rural-based EV owners, yet 94% have access to a home charger. In suburban and urban areas, 94% will charge away from home when needed, despite 92% and 88% respectively having access to an at-home charger.

Despite range anxiety being reduced and high access to home charging, over half of EV drivers still don’t feel there are enough public EV chargers in convenient locations across the UK (52%). Only 6% said there are plenty of locations nearby. In fact, charging away from home is most likely to happen once every few months (38%). The survey highlighted many positive experiences with home charging, but this frequency of charging away from home suggests a need for accessible and convenient public charging infrastructure. The cost of public charging, availability, reliability, and location, as well as infrastructure complexity (networks, number of apps, and accounts), were all flagged as significant hurdles to using public charging facilities. This indicates a need to invest in public charging infrastructures that would provide EV drivers with an experience as frictionless as home smart charging.

William Goldsmith, Head of Grid and Data Services at ev.energy, said: “This data shows us EV drivers are confident in their at-home charging options. However, its vital to invest more in supporting the public charging infrastructure, and allowing for more affordable public charging. This will ensure drivers feel confident in making the switch from petrol to electric and allow those that don’t have access to a driveway to reap the cost and sustainability benefits of an EV.”

Cost and location the main challenges for public charging

Despite range anxiety being reduced and high access to home charging, over half of EV drivers still don’t feel there are enough public EV chargers in convenient locations across the UK (52%). Only 6% said there are plenty of locations nearby. However, charging cost is the main barrier stopping EV drivers from using public charging points (28%), with more charging stations in convenient locations being the second hurdle (26%).