If you own a car, then you've probably experienced that "Oh no, I'm almost out of gas" moment at one point or another. Luckily for you, there are usually a handful of gas stations in the vicinity where you can stop and fuel up. However, for electric car drivers, there may not be charging stations nearby, which can leave them in a lurch should their EV run out of charge. Today we're talking EV range anxiety - our Clermont Toyota experts are explaining what it is and how to beat it when you get behind the wheel.
What is EV range anxiety?
First things first - let's look at what EV range anxiety means. Basically, it's the anxious feeling that electric car drivers get about running out of charge. If you recall, electric vehicles run completely off of a battery - no gasoline involved. The car can go a certain number of miles on one charge before it needs to be plugged in and charged up again.
EV range anxiety exists for several reasons. First, all-electric are relatively new to the game, which means drivers may have anxiety already about driving something that's pretty cutting-edge and not what they're used to (i.e. a gasoline-powered car). Two, infrastructure for electric vehicles is great in some areas but not great in others, so it might be challenging to find a charging station at times.
What can you do to alleviate EV range anxiety?
Luckily, there are steps you can take to alleviate EV range anxiety. See what the experts at Toyota of Clermont recommend!
#1: Keep in mind that range is a lot better now for electric cars. The range for electric cars used to be pretty dismal; you couldn't go far at all without needing to recharge. It's been much improved as these cars become mainstream options; the Clermont Toyota bz4X, for example, can go 252 miles on just one charge.
#2: Be proactive and also watch your instrument panel. Watch your instrument panel to keep an eye on the charge level of your EV and when it gets toward the low side, charge up. Don't wait until the last minute to find a charging station - this will just make your EV range anxiety worse.
#3: Spring for a home charging station. Why not make things simple and spring for an at-home charging station for your electric car? You'll need to find a certified electrician to do it and it's a bit of an investment, but you'll get peace of mind knowing you can charge your car every single night while you sleep and start your commute with a full charge every day.
#4: Schedule routine car maintenance appointments as necessary. Make sure you stick to your routine car care schedule at Toyota of Clermont. Our techs will be able to spot any existing or developing issues with your car's battery, etc. to avoid major problems down the road.
#5: Be able to find charging stations quickly. Know how to locate charging stations for your EV quickly to alleviate EV range anxiety. You can download apps like ChargePoint, EVGo, ChargeMap, PlugShare, and NextCharge to locate a charging point near you.
#6: Consider a plug-in hybrid. If you just can't shake your EV range anxiety, it might be time to compromise in the form of a plug-in hybrid. These unique Clermont Toyotas like the RAV4 Prime and Prius Prime can function like electric cars, but once they run out of charge or range, they fall back to a hybrid system (which uses gasoline) to keep you going.
Have questions about EVs or EV range anxiety? Call us today! Toyota of Clermont is open seven days a week at (352) 404-7000 and we're conveniently located just west of the Florida Turnpike at 16851 State Road 50 if you want to stop by.
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