An Electric Vehicle (EV) is a vehicle that uses one or more electric motors for propulsion.
Using electricity was among the preferred methods for motor vehicle propulsion as it provides a level of quietness, comfort and ease of operation that could not be achieved by the fueled/gasoline engined cars.
However, considering the speed at which electric cars and the technology involved has developed, range anxiety is a bit of a misnomer in 2024.
The real issue facing electric car owners these days isn’t range, but charging. While EV range has improved dramatically, the number of public electric car charging points hasn’t followed suit and there is often long queues for devices at motorway services.
As expected, it’s very similar to running out of fuel in an ICE-powered car – but there are some differences that are worth knowing should you make an unfortunate blunder.
Firstly, an EV will do its upmost best to warn you of any impending peril – just like an ICE car – with a number of alerts popping up on the drivers display stating that battery level is low and that it’s time to recharge.
It starts with a ‘Battery Level Low’ warning on your digital instrument cluster informing you of your limited mileage.
Although, most EVs are intelligent enough to find all the electric charging points that are closest to you and re-route you to your desired device.
Once the battery level gets below a certain level a ‘Limited Performance’ warning will come up on the dashboard, reducing the power of the EV.
Meanwhile, not all EV’s run out of battery in the same way. Some will slow down to a halt with plenty of warning, while others – like the Fiat 500e – will come to a more abrupt halt and can be harder to maneuver once the battery is flat.
Significantly, once an electric car hits 0% battery, some will often keep going a few more miles before stopping completely.
Not all electric cars will keep the power on for digital displays and power steering, which means you’ll have to be towed to a charging point. The EV Porsche Taycan will keep these functions going, and might even have enough power to crawl onto a recovery truck.
However, frustratingly, you can’t tow an EV. They don’t have a gearbox and therefore no neutral gear, which means that if you want to drag them along they have to be in forward or reverse, which can damage both the electric motor and battery.
The best way to move an EV is by using a flatbed truck. Notwithstanding that electric cars like the Nissan Leaf can be towed with the front wheels raised, while rear-wheel-drive EVs such as the Cupra Born can be towed with the rear wheels raised.
How to avoid breakdowns
Electric cars will always give you ample warnings that battery level is low, providing you enough possibilities to take avoiding action.
There are apps available that display the location of EV charging points, which can help to plan a longer journey and should help you avoid being stranded on the road.
Also, the battery can be extended by turning off the radio and heater, although these only buys a few extra miles.
Additionally, getting rid of any unnecessary weight can have a positive impact on the range of your EV.
Many companies and researchers are also working on newer battery technologies, including solid state batteries.
Chinedum Anayo