What Is Range Anxiety?
You’re in the car, you’re ready to reach your destination but the terrifying thing happens - the car makes a shrill ‘bing’ and you look down at those words flashing on the screen.
“20 miles to go. Please charge.” Oh no!
Now you’ve got range anxiety, that EV-exclusive worry that your vehicle hasn’t got enough charge to reach the next charging point or your destination.
There are some simple ways to beat these symptoms - and Roadchef have got your back, with a network of 31 motorway services across the United Kingdom boasting the latest in charging technology, including 17 sites with up to 360kW-capable GRIDSERVE chargers.
But how else can you beat range anxiety? We’ll reveal all in this article!
Is there a perfect speed I should be driving to limit range anxiety?
According to our friends at GRIDSERVE, the best motorway speed for EV vehicles low on range is between 50mph - 60mph.
Obviously, you should still follow the rules of the road (that’s 70mph for the motorway in the United Kingdom) but keeping a consistent speed whilst avoiding harsh acceleration and braking will help increase your range.
What is the longest-range EV currently?
The bigger the battery, the longer the range, right? Well, sort of. Range will depend on a variety of factors, including the age of the vehicle, driving style, external factors such as weather and other things.
Currently, in the UK, the Mercedes EQS (released late Summer 2024) boasts 481 miles of range. To those motorway services fans, that’ll take you from Roadchef Taunton Deane Northbound to Roadchef Annandale Water with 130 miles to spare.
The Mercedes EQS will currently set you back £112,000 - that’s £232 per mile for you, stat fans!
If you’re looking for something a little more affordable with a similar range, the Vauxhall Grandland Electric retails at £40,995, with the German manufacturer’s vehicle offering 425 miles.
How long will an EV battery last?
Whilst technology is evolving all the time, battery life is evolving too and continues to improve.
Based on current data, battery life should last for around two decades or 150,000 miles, depending on usage.
You’ll find that most EV manufacturers will give a warranty for their electric vehicles - for example, Volkswagen are currently offering an eight-year or 100,000 battery warranty from the point of registration.
The best way to avoid range anxiety is…
Charge at Roadchef with our selection of GRIDSERVE chargers and great on-site brands to make your recharge refreshing.
You can check out which chargers are at which sites by using our Roadchef MSA locator tool and planning your journey in advance, to avoid the dreaded range anxiety.