Range is often considered one of the most important performance metrics for electric cars. Other than high price, so called ‘range anxiety’ was and still is considered by many to be the biggest turn-off when considering the switch to an electric vehicle (EV).
Flip through any car magazine or blog and an EV’s range is typically shown as a defining factor in whether or not it’s recommended compared with its peers. Range mileages running into the hundreds are presented as the be all and end all, with editors suggesting potential buyers will only be able to sleep well at night knowing they can drive half-way across Europe on a single charge.
This is despite many EVs being able to travel 300 miles or more on a single charge, while the average journey distance in the UK is estimated to be only 8.4 miles [PDF].
The preoccupation with range has numerous negative effects. It is bad for the environment as manufacturers cram increasingly large batteries, with greater...