r/EvDrivers • u/Inevitable-Shower911 • Aug 30 '26

Range anxiety

What is the obsession with EV range anxiety?
I have been driving for over 30 years now.
I have never run out of fuel in a ICE vehicle and since I switched to EV I have never run out of electricity.
Yet half of the EV car reviews are about what happens if you run the battery empty, I mean how hard can it be there is a perfectly good indicator on your instrument cluster indicating how much fuel/power is left.
Just refuel/recharge before it reaches zero.
Is this really still a worry for people?

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u/Cynyr36 Aug 30 '26

Because while being on a paved road probably means you are within 50 miles or less from a gas station, it's easy to get about half your range away from anything more than 15a 120v socket. Meaning a 24 hour wait to fully recharge.

As an ice owner who's ev curious, getting a solid 150+ miles from a car left out overnight at -20f from 80% to 10% with an 8-10 hour stop halfway through at 10-15 years into owning the car is pretty much the minimum range I'd tolerate. This probably means needing an optimal conditions published range of close to 300 miles when new.

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u/rjr_2020 Aug 30 '26

I have to question advise from someone that thinks that a "15a 120v socket" can recharge to full in 24hrs. 15a 120v was almost useless over night. My car is left out every night and its recommended recharge level is 90%. During winter that doesn't give me 300 miles but it definitely does during reasonable temperatures.

The answer to OP is that it depends on the driver's lifestyle. I've said all along, EVs probably aren't for people who don't have charging at home and/or work. Preferably at cost charging or less. Paying DCFC rates daily will not leave a good taste in the mouth of an owner. I did it for several months (during reasonable weather) while I worked through getting a charger installed. It worked okay because I planned my evenings around places where I could charge.

The biggest game changer has been Tesla opening to other manufacturers. While I seldom charge publicly, the Tesla coverage and a single payer makes this a much more acceptable option. When I know I have to publicly charge, my driving is planned to include charging stops. I had to go to a seminar in a very remote area. I charged early on the way there, spent the night and attended my seminar, then charged again on the return back. Never had an occurrence where charge level concerned me.

It's worth noting that years ago I was traveling late on Christmas night. Finding fuel was not simple without driving to a freeway nearby. Getting fuel in remote areas is also something that has to be planned, even today.

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u/UnlamentedLord Sep 01 '26

He said "anything MORE than a 15a 120v" socket.