February 22nd News—For years, range anxiety has been a major obstacle to the wider adoption of electric vehicles in the United States. It's a common fear: imagine being in a remote location with only 5% battery left and nowhere to charge. No one wants to go through that nightmare. But a new study proves that in the real world of the United States, this scenario is highly unlikely.
After analyzing data from 18,000 electric vehicles in all 50 states of the USA, battery health and data startup company Recurrent found some interesting insights. Due to modern battery and powertrain systems, the average daily driving distance for Americans constitutes only a small fraction of the total range of electric vehicles.
The research reveals that depending on the state, the average daily driving distance for electric vehicles ranges from 20 to 45 miles, consuming only 8% to 16% of the battery's EPA-rated range. Most electric vehicles currently sold in the USA have a range of about 250 miles, with many models exceeding 300 miles.
Among the top 10 most affordable electric cars in the USA, most can travel over 200 miles on a single charge according to the EPA cycle. The 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV is one of the most affordable electric cars in the USA, with an EPA rating of 259 miles. Despite its production being discontinued, there are still many available in Chevrolet's inventory for purchase.
The three largest states in terms of geographical area—Alaska, Texas, and California—have lower daily driving distances on average. However, electric vehicle owners in these states may reside in urban areas where they could potentially use gasoline or hybrid alternatives for long-distance travel.
Places like Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and Washington D.C. also have shorter daily driving distances, meaning drivers use less of the electric vehicle's range. After all, even if the adoption of electric vehicles increases and future drivers purchase electric cars as their primary vehicles, the average daily driving distance may not increase significantly.
Data from the U.S. Department of Transportation shows that even with gasoline cars, American drivers can only drive an average of 37 miles per day. There are significant differences in data across different regions and scenarios. Residents of Wyoming and South Dakota may require more driving time compared to those in New York or Washington D.C.
This is not to say that we don't need electric vehicles with longer ranges. Convincing people that they don't "need" as much range as they think might be a failed proposition. For these reasons, automakers are developing electric vehicles equipped with 600-mile batteries to enter the market in the coming years, but consumers should carefully consider what they actually need.
