Motorists across the UK are being urged to disregard widespread misconceptions about electric vehicles (EVs), as experts argue that unfounded fears are significantly hampering sales. New research indicates that concerns over battery range and charging infrastructure persist, despite substantial improvements in both technology and availability.
The Pervasive Myth of Range Anxiety
Range anxiety – the fear of an electric car's battery depleting before reaching a destination – remains a primary psychological barrier for many potential buyers. Fresh data from charge point operator char.gy and pollsters YouGov highlights the scale of this concern, revealing that a substantial 71 per cent of drivers would worry about running out of charge on a journey.
However, industry figures show that the reality of EV capabilities often contradicts these fears. The majority of modern electric vehicles now offer a practical range of between 250 and 300 miles on a single charge, with many premium models exceeding an impressive 400 miles. This distance comfortably covers the vast majority of daily travel needs for UK drivers.
Britain's Expanding Charging Network
Supporting this growing range is a rapidly expanding public charging infrastructure. According to the latest statistics from Zapmap, there are now 87,168 public charging devices operational across the United Kingdom, located at more than 44,000 individual sites.
Critically, a significant portion of these are high-speed units. The data confirms that 17,829 of these devices are rapid or ultra-rapid chargers, capable of replenishing a vehicle's battery in a matter of minutes rather than hours, making longer journeys far more feasible.
From Range to 'Charge Anxiety'
As EV technology evolves to address range limitations, a new concern termed 'charge anxiety' is emerging as a predominant barrier. This refers not to the fear of finding a charger, but to the uncertainty and negativity surrounding the actual experience of using one.
John Lewis, CEO of char.gy, addressed these issues directly. "Once people understand the facts - how batteries age, the cost of overnight charging, or the availability of kerbside networks - their apprehension drops sharply," he stated. "Myths, not technology, are holding this transition back. If we improve public confidence, we accelerate adoption."
Charge anxiety encompasses several practical worries for drivers, including:
- Long queues at charging stations during peak times.
- Encountering vandalised or out-of-order equipment.
- Dealing with unreliable payment software or faulty hardware.
- Finding a dedicated EV charging bay occupied by a petrol or diesel vehicle.
The key distinction experts make is that while range anxiety relates to the vehicle's capability, charge anxiety is fundamentally about the reliability and accessibility of the infrastructure itself. Tackling this latter issue is seen as the next crucial step in convincing a sceptical public to make the switch to electric motoring.
