Photo: Nissan
It’s in the human nature to always want more and more. We started with cars that had a few horsepower and everyone now wants one that has at least 150 of them to feel at least OK. Same goes for electric cars, but here people are not necessarily concerned about the power but the driving range instead.
Still, a recent study from the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) says that you don’t really need an electric vehicle that can go for over 100 miles (160 km) on one charge.
The study, which is called Optimizing and Diversifying Electric Vehicle Driving Range for US Drivers, surveyed more than 36,000 drivers, their routes and driving patterns to find out the optimal EV range and how to improve the charging infrastructure.
Results show, and we agree with them, that most people don’t need anything over the 84-mile range a Nissan Leaf offers, for example. Of course, the thing changes if you want to travel in between cities on electricity, but then, how often do people that work in the city do that.
The average commute takes less than 40 miles a day, going to work and home, leaving a lot of juice in the battery even for some shopping or going to a movie. Then, as you arrive back home and decide to go to sleep, you just plug the car and it will be ready in the morning to start over.
The problem is in the people’s mind, because with a normal combustion engine car they get an average of around 320 miles. Suddenly switching to EVs leave them with around 100 miles, which raises that range anxiety feeling. Most people also have the false impression that the range will also decrease a lot by being caught in the traffic.
Well, things are not like that. Unlike a combustion engine car, when an EV stays put, the only things that are sucking on the battery are the stereo, lights and other accessories.
So, basically if you don’t exaggerate with music and AC, that 100-mile range is enough and it will make sure that every buck you spent on the electric car itself will worth it.
The study, which is called Optimizing and Diversifying Electric Vehicle Driving Range for US Drivers, surveyed more than 36,000 drivers, their routes and driving patterns to find out the optimal EV range and how to improve the charging infrastructure.
Results show, and we agree with them, that most people don’t need anything over the 84-mile range a Nissan Leaf offers, for example. Of course, the thing changes if you want to travel in between cities on electricity, but then, how often do people that work in the city do that.
The average commute takes less than 40 miles a day, going to work and home, leaving a lot of juice in the battery even for some shopping or going to a movie. Then, as you arrive back home and decide to go to sleep, you just plug the car and it will be ready in the morning to start over.
The problem is in the people’s mind, because with a normal combustion engine car they get an average of around 320 miles. Suddenly switching to EVs leave them with around 100 miles, which raises that range anxiety feeling. Most people also have the false impression that the range will also decrease a lot by being caught in the traffic.
Well, things are not like that. Unlike a combustion engine car, when an EV stays put, the only things that are sucking on the battery are the stereo, lights and other accessories.
So, basically if you don’t exaggerate with music and AC, that 100-mile range is enough and it will make sure that every buck you spent on the electric car itself will worth it.
Google News