Sometimes, I get so caught up with my job of reviewing cars that I often lose track of what the auto industry may look like to someone who’s not working in it. Casual conversations with friends and family quickly give me a reality check as to how some vehicles can be perceived. That’s particularly true about electric vehicles (EVs), where everyone seems to have an opinion about them, even if some folks have never actually driven one.
To provide the most accurate and up-to-date information, this article uses data sourced from various trusted sources and manufacturers, as well as the author’s personal experience.
There’s Still A Lot Of Consumer Worry Surrounding EV Charging And Range
The one negative EV feedback I hear the most about is charging. I’ve stopped counting the number of times someone has told me about how they have no time or patience to wait for their car to charge while on the go, or wait in line until the charger frees up. Others have expressed their concern about how cold weather negatively affects an EV’s range and charging performance, while some even went as far as saying that EV technology is simply not ready to be deployed in the open.
Yet, since at least 2017, I’ve been sitting behind the wheel of EVs for my job. I’ve driven them in all types of weather, including through consistently rough Eastern Canadian winters. I drove an EV from Montreal to Quebec’s northern hydroelectric power dams right smack in the middle of frigid February in a Kia Niro EV, and I constantly charge EVs for reviews either at home, on my level 2 AC charger, or on the road, using public DC infrastructure. I’ve never really experienced any real issues with any of them, except for perhaps the pain of having to deal with broken chargers and disrespectful drivers hogging up charging spots in their gas-powered cars.
Actually, as I drive more EVs, I find myself very rarely even using public charging altogether. I actually need to go out of my way to fast-charge the vehicle I’m testing just for the sake of a review. Other than that, I use home charging the entire time.
How Much Range Do You Actually Need?
I think the first question you need to ask yourself before buying an EV is: how much range do you actually need? With gas cars, we don’t really ask these questions, because gasoline is so plentiful and so quick to refuel.
But since EVs take more time to charge, we’ve become a lot more sensitive about how many miles we can cover with them on a full battery. And it seems no matter how high a range automakers are dishing out, it’s never enough. At least, not for those commenting about it online, for what that’s worth.
Modern EVs Offer More Than Enough Juice For The Average Driver
In reality, you may not need as much range as you actually think. Yes, some folks travel a lot in their car daily. I get why an EV may not yet be a viable solution for them, simply because they cannot afford to spend several minutes plugged into a charger next to a highway. But for a lot of people, and, due to the current state of things with remote work, I assume this concerns a lot more people than we imagine, the current performance of EVs is absolutely sufficient.
Electric Vehicle Terminology Explained
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Kilowatts (kW) |
Unit of measurement to define power, either for an EV’s output or its charging performance. |
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Kilowatt-Hour (kWh) |
An EV battery’s capacity to push out a certain amount of power for a full hour. |
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DC Fast Charging (Level 3) |
The fast chargers we spot on the road, recommended to stop the charge at 80% to prevent premature battery degradation. |
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AC Home Charging (Level 2) |
A slower, steadier charge rate, ideal for home use. It can also reverse the flow of power to use your EV to power your home. |
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NACS Connector/Charge Port |
North American Charging Standard, designed and homologated by the Tesla Supercharger network. |
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CCS Combo Connector/Charge Port |
The most common type of charge port for DC fast charging, slowly being phased out in favor of NACS. |
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SAE J1772 Connector/Charge Port |
The most common type of charge port for AC level 2 home charging, slowly being phased out in favor of NACS. |
For me, at least, since I mostly work from home and only occasionally drive off into the big city – about 160 miles there and back – I rarely need to stop for a fast charge on the go, even during the colder months. And when I do, it’s mostly just to get me enough range to complete my trek. Yes, if I do need to venture out on longer road trips once in a while, like when I drove to Toronto in winter in a BMW i4, I obviously need to spend more time on the charger. But it never really slowed me down from what I’ve had to do.
I’ve Lost Interest In An EV’s Charging Performance
The same applies to an EV’s charging performance. Measured in kilowatts (kW), the unit allows us auto journalists, and even you, the consumer, to evaluate an EV’s performance versus its competitors. The higher the value in kW, the faster an EV charges (as long as it’s plugged into a compatible charger). And with the avenue of 800-volt charging architectures, we’re beginning to see mainstream EVs charge faster than 250 kW, which was the former benchmark set by Tesla. Charging performance that’s north of 320 kW is becoming more common in the EV space.
Yet, for some reason, I no longer care much about that when I’m parked at the charger. Yes, of course, I try to optimize the charging session by connecting the car to a charger that matches its specifications. Why plug into a 50-kW charger when my car can do north of 200 kW? But too often, what ends up happening is, due to weather conditions, the battery’s general health or state of charge, the car won’t pull at its advertised charge rate anyway. In other words, I end up simply being content with the fact that it’s charging my car, and I leave the moment I know I have enough to get home, or to my destination. Most of the time, this happens during the time it takes me to grab a bathroom break, followed by a cup of coffee.
Non-EV Owners Are More Worried Than Actual EV Owners
Of course, we all want EV charging to improve to the point where it becomes just as quick to replenish as a gas car. And the industry is definitely pushing towards that goal, with new-generation EVs incrementally improving their performance. But ask any EV owner if range anxiety is a thing for them, and chances are they’ll tell you it’s a fear mostly attributed to non-owners. The more miles you’ll pack behind the wheel of your electric vehicle, the more you’ll realize that your car offers more range and charging performance than you actually need, and that, even if it means waiting an extra 20 minutes to get back on the road, it still won’t ruin your plans.