Have you heard of the term range anxiety? If you are the owner of an electric vehicle, you probably deal with it every time you decide to take a long road trip. This phenomenon has become one of the major obstacles in the mass adoption of electric vehicles. Range anxiety is a phenomenon where the owner of an EV is concerned that the vehicle will run out of power before the destination is reached.
The average EV today can travel about 200 miles on a single charge. This is just fine for your regular day-to-day commutes to and from work. But, what about the times you need to take a long road trip? This is when range anxiety becomes a major concern. Charging grids have improved all over the United Kingdom and Europe. Route planning algorithms and mapping software have also improved to a great extent. Trips can now be planned while keeping charging stations in mind.
Yet, you need to prepare for emergencies. Accurately planning a road trip comes first. And, there are emergency towing services available around the country, if you need them. But, you need to also make yourself aware of all the options you have at hand if you run out of charge. Electric generators are a tried and tested makeshift charging method. They are generally available in remote locations and are also portable. These generators provide stable power output for a short time and can be used just like your household mains. Read on to find out more about how you can make this possible.
Planning the Road Trip
1. The Real Range Estimate
The US Environmental Protection Agency makes range estimates using a 45%:55% ratio of urban and highway driving. Thus, do not go by the EPA range that is advertised for your vehicle. The actual range will be lower since the average highway speed will be about 60 to 70 miles per hour.
The weather will also play a part. The range will be reduced when temperatures are low. Under test conditions, an EV lost about 20% of its range when operating below 28 degrees Fahrenheit. You will be tempted to test your EV’s high acceleration on the highway, but putting the car in economy mode will increase regenerative braking.
2. Route Planning
It is very important to plan the charging stops beforehand. Teslas come with a built-in route planner. Even if you don’t own a tesla you can use Google Maps to mark out the charging points along the way. When deciding which points to use, always pick the fastest chargers, i.e. Level 3.
Level 1 Chargers are the types that power domestic electrical devices and take days to power up a vehicle. Level 2 chargers take a few hours. Level 3 or direct current chargers can do this in about an hour. When deciding your overnight stops, call and check with hotels what kind of chargers they have. Pick the ones that provide dedicated car chargers.
Unconventional Methods
1. The Granny Cable or Home Charger
There are 2,210 RV or trailer parks in operation in the United Kingdom. These camping grounds come with 240-volt charging points for the EVs. If you are in a real pinch, you can use them to get enough charge to make it to the nearest dedicated charging point. For this, you will need a granny cable or the home charger supplied with your car. As a matter of fact, you can use these to plug your vehicle into any electrical point that you find along the way.
2. The Portable Electric Generator
This option is the most useful when you are in a very remote location. And you are unable to communicate for help. If you can plan for this in advance and decide to carry one, opt for one with a pure sine wave output. It is the only type that is suitable for car charging. When you start the charging process, start with the lowest possible amperage.
Gradually increase it to about 28 to 30 amps. This will protect the motor. Charging your car with a generator can take more than 24 hours. And, it would require several refills of the generator. So, only charge the car enough to make it to your nearest EV charging station. Now that you know the process, it must be said that you only want to do this in a real emergency.
So don’t let range anxiety stop you from taking a long road trip in your prized EV. All you need to do is, plan in advance and for exigencies. They are a lot of fun to drive on the highway. And you end up getting a novel travel experience.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
