Some 99% of drivers in our recent poll totally over-estimate the percentage of EV breakdowns due to running out of charge.
Half of drivers are worried about running out of charge on a motorway and 59 per cent thought re-charging would take too long.
But the improved range of the latest electric cars to an average of 200 miles, more rapid charging points and better dashboard advice to the driver has meant they are much less likely to find themselves with flat batteries.
Only 3.71 per cent of electric car breakdowns attended so far this year by AA Patrols have been due to the driver running out of charge, down from 7.63 per cent in 2017 and 4.88 per cent last year.
Our comprehensive breakdown figures are already indicating that EV ‘range anxiety’ out-of-charge breakdowns are dropping dramatically as a proportion of breakdowns.
These breakdowns have more than halved in the last five years and we estimate they will drop further with extended ranges, more charging points and better driver education. Of course, the charging network and reliability of charge posts can be improved, but for many people the barrier to EV ownership is psychological. Purchase price is still an issue but more used EVs are coming on the market and others are opting to lease their first EV.
In Norway, where fully electric cars accounted for more than half of new car sales last year, only 1 per cent of breakdowns are due to running out of charge, according to NAF, the Norwegian AA.
Electric cars give lots of warning to the driver when the charge is low and many sat navs suggest a nearby charging point.
For some people, overcoming psychological barriers to electric cars can be achieved by making the switch in stages.
I went from a petrol sports car, to a sporty plug-in hybrid and after getting used to charging, I went full electric. The hybrid certainly helped me to break down some of the barriers.
I love my EV. I love driving it. I even love planning the charging on a long journey and picking out somewhere I would like to stop. I also do like the fact that I have no tailpipe emissions.
The one thing I still really miss is the sound of that great combustion engine… I have an enhanced engine sound on my EV but it is still not a V6.
The number of fully electric cars on UK roads has more than doubled in 12 months, from 108,000 in March 2020 to 224,000 by March this year and is set to grow further.
If you make the switch, I’m sure you will love it. As the song goes ‘Don’t Worry Be Happy’.